Al Nassr is gearing up to host Esteghlal FC for the second leg of their AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash on Monday, March 10, 2025, at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This encounter is particularly significant, as the first leg ended without any score, leaving both teams with everything to play for.
Al Nassr's squad includes the star Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the first leg due to fatigue. According to reports, he is expected to feature prominently when the teams meet at home, bolstering the attack for Al Nassr, who finished third in Group B during the league phase, accumulating 17 points.
The French league outfit Esteghlal FC, on the other hand, finished sixth with only nine points. Their last few matches have not gone well, securing just two victories from their past eight fixtures in the AFC Champions League. With only eight goals to their name throughout the competition, Esteghlal has had some real struggles offensively.
The stakes could not be higher for Al Nassr, particularly after falling to fourth place within the Saudi Pro League following their recent 2-2 draw against Al Shabab. Coach Ramón Díaz will certainly look to his star player Ronaldo to invigorate the team's performance as they strive for success in this prestigious tournament, which may represent their best chance at acquiring silverware this season.
Kickoff for the match is slated for 9:00 PM Saudi time or 7:00 PM BST. Fans worldwide will have various options to tune in. For those watching from India, the game will be televised on Sports18 and available for live streaming on the Fancode app starting from 11:30 PM IST. Viewers across the pond in the UK can catch the action live on Triller TV from 7 PM BST. Meanwhile, fans in the US have streaming options available through Paramount+ beginning at 2 PM ET.
Esteghlal FC will seek to shock the Riyadh crowd by overcoming their goal-scoring challenges and reversing their misfortunes against a formidable opponent. Much attention is on Ronaldo, whose experience and scoring prowess could be pivotal for Al Nassr.
This matchup signifies not only the fight for progress within the AFC Champions League but also the desire for redemption by both teams as they compete on one of the biggest stages in Asian football.
With so much at stake, fans are bracing for what promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable encounter.