On March 10, 2025, Al Nassr clinched their spot in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League following a dominant 3-0 victory over Esteghlal at Al Awwal Park, Riyadh. The Saudi side, seeking their first title, progressed with ease after first-leg tensions ended with a 0-0 draw in Tehran.
The match showcased Al Nassr's attacking prowess from the outset. Jhon Duran opened the scoring just nine minutes in, capitalizing on Esteghlal goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini's poor pass. Positioned 25 meters from the goal, Duran cleverly lobbed the ball over the highest point of the keeper’s reach, setting the tone for the evening.
Ronaldo's efforts were soon rewarded when he doubled the lead at the 27-minute mark. Following Sadio Mane’s run being cut short due to a foul by Mohammad Niknafs, Ronaldo converted the resultant penalty with his characteristic flair, confidently chipping the ball straight down the middle.
Esteghlal's challenges were compounded just before halftime. Mehran Ahmadi, already booked for an earlier foul, received his marching orders after committing another infringement—this time, elbowing Al Fatil. This dismissal left the Iranians with ten men just as the home side began establishing clear control.
Throughout the match, Al Nassr maintained extraordinary offensive pressure, tallying 22 shots and commanding 68% possession, with astonishing 90% accuracy on passes, clearly demonstrating their technical dominance.
After the break, the home side continued to assert themselves, but the breakthrough would wait until the 84th minute. Duran, frequently active and threatening to the opposition, netted his second goal by exploiting space created through excellent team movement. Following a well-timed interception by Ronaldo, the Colombian striker received the assist and expertly guided the ball past Hosseini, solidifying the 3-0 advantage.
“I think we played well,” Mane later stated. “We created many chances and we scored three goals. I think we got our reward. We pressed well together, we pushed them and they made mistakes, and from those mistakes, we scored our goals. We kept a clean sheet and we cannot expect more than this.”
This resounding win not only highlighted Al Nassr's attacking firepower but also offered reassurance to fans following their inconsistent league form, where they currently sit fourth, trailing behind league leaders Al-Ittihad. The club aims to use this Champions League run as momentum to turn their domestic campaign around.
Looking forward, as part of the centralized tournament format, Al Nassr's next challenge will occur from April 25 to May 3, when the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League will take place. Their confident performance against Esteghlal has reinforced their aspirations of securing the prestigious title. With star players like Duran and Ronaldo finding their rhythm, supporters are optimistic for the challenges to come.
Esteghlal now faces the reality of recalibrations as they exit the continental stage. Despite their efforts, the combination of tactical mishaps and losing key players hindered their attempts to mount sufficient responses against the Saudi club.
With this match concluded, the focus shifts back to the domestic leagues for both clubs, where strategies will need refining and persistence is key, especially for Esteghlal, who now must regroup and reassess their goals for the remainder of the season.