By Sogeyinbo Abdulrahmon Olabanji (SIWES student, Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade)
Al Nassr strategically rested Cristiano Ronaldo and benched key players in their 1-1 draw against Istiklol, wrapping up the Asian Champions League group stage. Already secured as Group E winners,
manager Luis Castro opted for squad rotation, leaving Ronaldo out while showcasing depth with substitutes like Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte.
Despite Istiklol taking an early lead, Nassr’s Abdulrahman Ghareeb equalized in the second half. The Saudi Arabian side finished the group stage unbeaten, setting the stage for the knockout rounds.
