⚡ The Cristiano Ronaldo-less Al Nassr kicked off the revamped AFC Champions League Elite with a 1-1 draw against Iraq’s Al Shorta on Monday, leaving fans buzzing about the tournament’s new format and the Saudi team’s rocky start.
🏟️ With Ronaldo sidelined due to a viral infection, Al Nassr struggled to dominate, repeating their recent 1-1 Saudi Pro League performance against Al Ahli. Captain Sultan Al-Ghannam fired in a slick opener in the 14th minute, but defensive errors allowed Mohammed Dawoud to equalize *10 minutes later*. A double blow hit when Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic exited injured in the second half.
🌍 The AFC’s new Swiss-style league format – think *World Cup meets video game brackets* – debuted with 24 teams instead of 40. Top eight finishers from East and West Asia’s 12-team groups will advance to March 2025 knockouts. All eyes now turn to Saudi Arabia, set to host the 2025 quarter-finals through final!
⏭️ Next up: Al Nassr faces Qatar’s Al Rayyan on October 1st. Will CR7 return? Stay tuned! 🎮⚽
