Al Nassr vs Gamba Osaka LIVE: Game on! (0-0) Cristiano Ronaldo chases 2026 AFC Champions League 2 title

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr face Gamba Osaka in a crucial showdown for the AFC Champions League Two final. Stay right here for all the minute-by-minute updates of this massive encounter!

By Gianni Taina

Updated on May 16, 2026 01:59PM EDT

**© Getty Images / @GAMBA_OFFICIAL**Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr and Shinnosuke Nakatani of Gamba Osaka.

Cristiano Ronaldo stands on the verge of lifting his first title in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, as they take on Gamba Osaka for the AFC Champions League Two final at Alawwal Park.

Having already suffered defeat in four previous finals with Al Nassr, Ronaldo faces a fresh opportunity to hoist his first piece of silverware since arriving in Middle East in late 2022.

Al Nassr enter the match with the rare opportunity to win two titles on the very same day. In addition to this final against Gamba Osaka, they could be crowned Saudi Pro League champions today if Al Hilal fail to defeat Neom in their domestic league match.

01:58PM

13'- Joao Felix tries from the distance (0-0)

Joao Felix let fly from outside the box, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Araki.

01:53PM

8'- Nice try from Ghareeb! (0-0)

Following a brilliant run by Ghareeb, the midfielder unleashed a powerful low-driven shot that Araki brilliantly turned away to deny the opening goal of the match.

01:50PM

5'- Al Nassr dominating at the beginning (0-0)

The hosts are dominant in possession during these opening minutes of play, while Gamba Osaka are pressing to win the ball back.

01:45PM

GAME ON!

The game between Al Nassr and Gamba Osaka is underway!

01:41PM

Players are on the pitch!

Players from both teams are on the field. Everything is ready for the start of the match!

01:35PM

AFC Champions League Two final potential scenarios

Al Nassr face three different scenarios for today's clash. A victory would secure Cristiano Ronaldo's first international title with Al Nassr, while a defeat would leave him empty-handed once again.

In the event of a draw, the match will head into extra time with two 15-minute halves. If the teams remain deadlocked after that period, the AFC Champions League Two winner will be decided via a penalty shootout.

01:25PM

Both teams doing warm up activities

Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at Alawwal Park!

01:20PM

Gamba Osaka lineup confirmed!

Gamba Osaka's starting XI: Araki; Kishimoto, Nakatani, Miura, Hatsuse; Mito, Suzuki; Yamashita, Jebali, Meshino; Hummet.

01:00PM

Al Nassr lineup confirmed!

Al Nassr's starting XI: Bento; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Iñigo Martinez, Ayman; Al-Hassan, Saad, Ghareeb; Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Cristiano Ronaldo.

12:39PM

Major blow for Al Nassr

Al Nassr will be without Marcelo Brozovic for the clash against Gamba Osaka, as the Croatian midfielder has been ruled out due to injury. However, reports indicate that Jorge Jesus will have Kingsley Coman at his disposal, who had been a doubt leading up to the match due to muscle fatigue.

12:20PM

Today's referees

Abdullah Al Jamali has been appointed to officiate the clash between Al Nassr and Gamba Osaka. He will be joined on the field by Ali Jaragh and Saud Al-Shamali, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.

Full officiating team:

Referee: Abdullah Al Jamali (KWT)
Assistant Referee 1: Ali Jaragh (KWT)
Assistant Referee 2: Saud Al-Shamali (KWT)
Fourth official: Ammar Ashkanani (KWT)
VAR: Mohammed Obaid Khadem (KWT)

12:00PM

Kickoff time

Al Nassr vs Gamba Osaka will get underway at Alawwal Park at 1:45 PM (ET).

11:45AM

Al Nassr and Gamba Osaka clash in 2026 AFC Champions League 2 final

Welcome to our live blog of the AFC Champions League 2 final! Al Nassr host Gamba Osaka at Alawwal Park, with Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to lift his first official trophy in Middle East.

Stay with us for all the action and minute-by-minute updates of this exciting game!

Gianni Taina

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, bringing his expertise in soccer, NBA, and tennis to deliver original content while providing live coverage of important events.