Joao Felix Shines as Al Nassr Dominate Pakhtakor in AFC Champions League Without Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is undeniably the standout star of the Al Nassr squad, but every player has a role to play in the AFC Champions League Elite. With Ronaldo resting during away fixtures, it was Joao Felix who took charge and delivered a commanding performance.
On their trip to Uzbekistan, Al Nassr faced Pakhtakor as part of the West Region group stage. The team aimed to secure a top-eight spot among the 16 teams to advance to the knockout rounds. Ronaldo did not travel to give him time to recover, opening the door for Felix to take center stage.
Felix Dominates the Match
Joao Felix grabbed the spotlight early, scoring twice and assisting two goals in a thrilling 6-2 victory on the road. His first goal came in the 17th minute, followed by another in the 32nd. Felix also set up Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s opener in the 15th minute and assisted Abdulelah Al Amri in the 53rd minute, pushing Al Nassr to a 4-1 lead.
When Felix exited the pitch in the 68th minute, his impact was clear: Al Nassr had earned all three points with a convincing performance. Highlights of the match are available on the AFC YouTube channel.
Al Nassr’s Standing in the AFC Champions League
This win lifted Al Nassr to fourth place in the West Region of the AFC Champions League Elite standings. They have won two out of three matches so far, after a tough 4-0 loss to Al Ain in their opener. The wins over Neftchi and Pakhtakor resulted in a combined scoreline of 7-3.
Their game against Al Wasl was postponed due to travel issues affecting the UAE side’s arrival in Riyadh. A new date for that fixture has not been confirmed yet.
- Match Results:
- Al Nassr vs Al Ain: Lost 0-4
- Al Nassr vs Neftchi: Won (score included in combined 7-3)
- Al Nassr vs Pakhtakor: Won 6-2
- Al Nassr vs Al Wasl: Postponed
