AFC Champions League Elite

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Al Ain vs Al Nassr LIVE: The home side opens the scoring! (1-0)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr are already playing their Matchday 1 fixture in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite against Al Ain at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

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By Matías Persuh

Updated on September 15, 2026 12:29PM EDT

**© Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images**Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr are already playing their first match of the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite against Al Ain. Ange Postecoglou’s side is looking to get its campaign off to a winning start.

In an well-attended match at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, both teams begin the competition with the same objective: to find a way to finish at the top of Group B. Al Nassr will look to carry their strong form from the Saudi Pro League into this international tournament.

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Since joining the team, Cristiano Ronaldo has made 17 appearances in the AFC Champions League Elite, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists. Will he be able to add to those numbers in the match against Al Ain? Don’t miss a moment of the action in this exciting match.

12:34PM

32' - Game resumes (1-0)

The match resumes after the break

12:32PM

30' - Al Ain goal disallowed (1-0)

Just before the hydration break, Al Ain scored a goal that was ruled offside

12:30PM

28' - No penalty for Al Nassr (1-0)

After a VAR review, the referee did not award a penalty to Al Nassr

12:27PM

25' - GOOOOAL for Al Ain (1-0)

Rahimi opens the scoring after a defensive error

12:22PM

20' - Al Ain are getting closer to the opening goal (0-0)

Kaku Romero Gamarra gets forward dangerously, but his cross could not be met by a teammate.

12:18PM

16' - Al Nassr are yet to find their footing (0-0)

Postecoglou’s side is struggling to create any real danger in the opposition box. A header from Inigo Martinez was the most dangerous chance of the match

12:15PM

13' - Al Ain are looking for the opening goal (0-0)

Lazaro had the first goal of the match, but his shot was blocked by an opposing player

12:10PM

9' - Matias Palacios is the main danger man (0-0)

The Argentine forward is constantly looking for the ball

12:06PM

4' - Al Ain look to take control of possession (0-0)

The home side is looking to play vertically in the opening minutes

12:04PM

2' - An active start to the match (0-0)

A shot off the post for Al Ain and a possible penalty for Al Nassr are the first major moments of the match

12:03PM

1' - Minute of silence (0-0)

Following the tragedy in Nepal, the match began with a respectful minute of silence

12:02PM

0' - Game is underway! (0-0)

Al Ain vs. Al Nassr are underway

11:55AM

Everything is set for kickoff

Al Ain and Al Nassr are all set for their debut in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite.

11:50AM

The referee for this match

Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev will be the man in charge of officiating the match between Al Ain and Al Nassr.

11:45AM

Al Nassr’s strong form in the Saudi Pro League

Al Nassr are aiming to win back-to-back Saudi Pro League titles and have made a strong start to their domestic campaign. They currently sit third in the standings, with five wins, one draw, and one loss.

11:38AM

Matchday 2 opponents

Al Nassr will host FK Neftchi Fergana, while Al Ain will travel to face Al Quwa Al Jawiya.

11:30AM

The captains of both teams

Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the captain’s armband for Al Nassr, while goalkeeper Khaled Eisa will captain Al Ain.

11:25AM

The teams continue their preparations

Both Al Nassr and Al Ain continue with their pre-match warm-ups ahead of kickoff.

11:20AM

Al Ain’s starting XI

Al Ain will field these players to start the match:
Khaled Eisa; Rafa Rodriguez, Yahya Benkhaleq, Skoko; Kaku Romero Gamarra, Houssine Rahimi, Lazaro, Matias Palacios; Soufiane Rahimi, Rami Rabia, Abdoulkarim Traore.

11:15AM

Al Nassr’s starting XI

These are the players Ange Postecoglou has selected to start the match:
Nawaf Al Aqidi; Saad Al Nasser, Inigo Martinez, Abdulelah Al Amri, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane; Abdullah Al Khaibari, Samu Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo.

11:10AM

The venue for this match

Al Nassr will begin their campaign in this competition away from home, as the match will be played at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000 spectators.

11:00AM

Welcome to our live blog!

Welcome to our live blog of Al Ain vs. Al Nassr!

Cristiano Ronaldo makes his debut in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite, and you can follow all the action with our minute-by-minute updates.

Matías Persuh

Matias Persuh is a sports journalist and writer who began his career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sports Journalism in 2008. Over the years, he has covered numerous events, including local soccer games, and has conducted interviews with players and coaches. In addition to his writing, Matias has contributed as a columnist on various radio shows. Joining Bolavip US in July 2024 marked a significant step forward in his career, allowing him to continue developing his skills and delivering resonant news about U.S. sports to the audience.