In the final second-leg tie at the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, Al-Nassr can book their place in the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign, hosting Al Fayha at Al-Awwal Stadium.
A goal in the final 10 minutes last Wednesday gave Al-Alami a 1-0 edge heading into this decisive fixture as Al Fayha aim to reach the quarter-finals of this tournament for the first time.
Match preview
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It took them 81 minutes to break down the stubborn Al Fayha defensive front, but the club from Riyadh persevered to win for the first time in this competition since matchday four in the group phase (3-2 over Al-Duhail).
With a win or draw on Wednesday, they would progress into the last eight of the Champions League for the fourth time in their previous four appearances.
Since being knocked out at this stage of the 2010-11 Champions League (4-1 versus Zob Ahan), Al-Nassr have never been eliminated in this phase of the competition while failing to lose a match during this portion of the tournament.
They have only featured in two second-leg fixtures at this competition, losing their last one in September 2019, 3-1 versus Al-Sadd SC, after winning the first match of that quarter-final tie 2-1.
Luis Castro's men have suffered just one defeat at home in all competitions this season (2-0 against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League last August), winning three of their four Champions League affairs at home over this campaign, with that other result being a 0-0 draw versus Persepolis.
Al-Nassr have not lost a match at this tournament by multiple goals since that aforementioned quarter-final defeat to Al-Sadd in 2019, though two of their three Saudi Pro League defeats this season have been by two or more goals.
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For over 80 minutes, Al Fayha frustrated Al-Nassr in the opening leg, but sustaining all that pressure ultimately became too much as their two-match Champions League winning run ended.
Even though they failed to register a single effort on target last week, Vuk Rasovic will be encouraged by their improved form away from home, winning at Nizhny Novgorod (3-1) in a friendly earlier this month while claiming a 3-1 triumph over Al-Hazm as the visitors in the Saudi top flight this past weekend.
The side based in Al Majma'ah have scored multiple goals in three of their last four matches in this competition, with all three of their group stage triumphs being by two goals or more, which, if achieved on Wednesday, would send them into the quarter-finals.
Last Wednesday was the fifth time in the Champions League this season that Al Fayha had conceded the opening goal, while they have only emerged victorious once in this tournament in that scenario (4-1 on matchday six versus Pakhtakor).
So far in 2024, Al Burtuqali have yet to suffer consecutive defeats, and a victory on Wednesday might keep their Champions League dreams alive and also mark the first time they claim consecutive victories since November.
They have suffered back-to-back defeats versus Al-Nassr and have never beaten them away from home in a single competitive fixture.
Team News
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Otavio sustained an unknown injury for Al-Nassr in their 2-1 victory over Al Fateh this past weekend, with Sami Al-Najei replacing him in the latter stages of the second half.
David Ospina is out with a torn thigh muscle, while Raghed Al-Najjar suffered an unknown injury early into their weekend affair, which means Waleed Abdullah could be between the sticks for this upcoming fixture.
Cristiano Ronaldo had their only strike in the opening leg, while he and Otavio found the back of the net in their league triumph on Saturday.
Heading into this upcoming fixture Mohammed Majrashi is questionable for Al Fayha, with the striker dealing with a cruciate ligament injury suffered in early October.
From matchday six to their first leg fixture last week, six Al Fayha players kept their place in the starting 11, including Hussein Al-Shuwaish, Mohammed Al-Baqawi, Abdulrahman Al-Safri, Nawaf Al-Harthi, Sultan Mandash and Fashion Sakala.
A brace from Henry Onyekuru over the weekend and a strike courtesy of fellow Nigerian Anthony Nwakaeme enabled them to end a five-match losing run in the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:
Abdullah; Al-Ghannam, Al-Amri, Laporte, Behich; Al-Khaibari, Al-Sulaiheem; Talisca, Al-Najei, Yahya; Ronaldo
Al Fayha possible starting lineup:
Stojkovic; Al-Rashidi, Al-Khaibari, Al-Shuwaish; Al Baqawi, R. Kaabi, Al-Safri, K. Kaabi; Mandash, Nwakaeme, Sakala
We say: Al-Nassr 2-0 Al Fayha
Al Fayha will have to be more attack-minded on Wednesday than they were in the opening leg, and that should play into the hands of Al-Nassr, who are potent in transition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
