Al Ain vs Al Nassr LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo makes 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite debut

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr begin their journey in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite with an away match against Al Ain at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

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By Matías Persuh

Updated on September 15, 2026 11:34AM EDT

**© Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images**Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr during the Saudi Pro League game.

Al Nassr face an exciting debut in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite against Al Ain, and securing all three points will be crucial to getting their campaign off to a winning start. Cristiano Ronaldo, the team’s biggest star, is looking to add another title to his illustrious career.

In what is expected to be a 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. Ange Postecoglou’s side will look to carry its 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.

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, Mohamed Simakan, Nawaf Boushal; 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.