This Tuesday, Al Nassr will face their first main check of the 2025–26 season. Within the Spherical of 16 of the King Cup of Champions, they’ll tackle one among Saudi Arabia’s strongest groups, Al Ittihad. This single-elimination conflict will draw particular consideration because it options two world superstars — Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
CR7 and his teammates have loved an virtually excellent begin to the 2025–26 marketing campaign. After the frustration of shedding the Saudi Tremendous Cup remaining to Al Ahli, they’ve bounced again with a string of victories in each the Saudi Professional League and the AFC Champions League Two, permitting them to sit down atop the standings in each competitions.
Nonetheless, the King Cup of Champions may current their first true problem of the yr. After defeating Jeddah within the opening spherical, they now face Al Ittihad — a harmful opponent — in a knockout match that may ship one of many two golf equipment residence. Benzema’s aspect superior to this stage after overcoming Al Wehda.
Current historical past favors Al Nassr, although. The groups have already met this season within the Saudi Professional League, the place Al Nassr earned a convincing 2–0 victory that put them on the prime of the desk and led to the dismissal of then-Al Ittihad coach Laurent Blanc.
Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus.
Projected Al Nassr lineup
In latest weeks, head coach Jorge Jesus has rigorously managed the workload of his key gamers to stop accidents and deal with what he considers the staff’s most essential competitions. That’s why, though Ronaldo has featured in each Saudi Professional League match, he hasn’t performed a single minute within the AFC Champions League Two.
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This Tuesday, nevertheless, the scenario can be totally different. Given the excessive stakes of a knockout match — and towards such a powerful rival as Al Ittihad — the coach is predicted to area his strongest attainable lineup within the King Cup of Champions.
Al Nassr’s projected lineup: Nawaf Al-Aqidi; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Inigo Martinez, Ayman Yahya; Abdul Al-Khaibari, Angelo Gabriel; Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Projected Al Ittihad lineup
Whereas Al Nassr have been absolutely centered on the Saudi Professional League, Al Ittihad are juggling a number of competitions. They intention to defend their home crown whereas additionally pursuing the AFC Champions League Elite title — a key aim to safe qualification for each the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Membership World Cup.
Inside that context, Sergio Conceicao is aware of he can’t afford a loss towards Al Nassr within the King Cup of Champions, so he’s anticipated to ship out his finest obtainable squad. The projected XI: Hamed Al-Shanqiti; Ahmed Al-Julaydan, Danilo Pereira, Saad Al-Mousa, Mario Mitaj; Mahamadou Doumbia, Houssem Aouar, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho; Moussa Diaby, Karim Benzema.
