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After a strong start without its captain, the club now heads into Friday’s Riyadh derby with a major question hanging over the team, and the answer could shape the way Ange Postecoglou approaches the contest. Cristiano Ronaldo will once again have to wait for his first competitive appearance of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season, with Al-Nassr facing Al-Riyadh in a Riyadh derby on Matchday 2. The Portugal captain had been expected to make his long-awaited return, but the latest team news has provided a different answer. The decision is especially significant because Ronaldo has already missed Al-Nassr‘s opening league match and the club’s King’s Cup victory. His continued absence has therefore become one of the biggest talking points surrounding Al-Nassr at the beginning of the new campaign, particularly after the club enjoyed an impressive start without its captain. Al-Nassr has still given supporters plenty of reasons for optimism. The club opened the Saudi Pro League season with a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh before following it with a 4-1 win over Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup, giving Ange Postecoglou a perfect competitive start. The biggest development ahead of the Riyadh derby is that Ronaldo has been named among the substitutes rather than in Al-Nassr’s starting XI. That means the 41-year-old remains available to Postecoglou, but the manager has opted against throwing him straight into the starting lineup. The work is done. Tomorrow, we play 💛 pic.twitter.com/Gn2fb4HtDV— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 20, 2026 The decision will inevitably raise questions about when the Portugal international will finally make his first competitive start of the season. For now, though, Al-Nassr appear to be taking a cautious approach rather than rushing their biggest attacking star back into action. The reason behind Ronaldo’s absence The explanation for Ronaldo’s continued absence goes back to the unusual circumstances surrounding his preseason preparation. The veteran forward returned from his post-World Cup break later than many of his teammates, while his wedding celebrations also contributed to the limited amount of preparation time available to him. More recently, reports indicated that Ronaldo had been dealing with discomfort involving a pelvic muscle issue. That problem reportedly resulted in the striker training separately from his teammates while Al-Nassr’s medical staff monitored his condition. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr lifts the Saudi Pro League Trophy That context helps explain why Postecoglou has resisted immediately putting Ronaldo into the starting lineup. With a long season ahead, Al-Nassr have little reason to take unnecessary risks with a player they will need for the biggest domestic and continental matches. Ronaldo had already missed the 3-0 league victory against Al-Fateh, while he was also absent from the 4-1 King’s Cup win over Al-Diriyah. His return to the matchday squad against Al-Riyadh therefore represents progress, even if he has not yet been trusted from the opening whistle. Al-Nassr have coped impressively without its captain Ronaldo’s absence would normally represent a major attacking setback for any team, but Al-Nassr have managed to produce convincing results without him. The club has scored seven goals across its first two competitive matches, conceding only one in the process. Postecoglou has also benefited from the attacking quality around Ronaldo. Joao Felix, Angelo and Sadio Mane provide the team with different ways of creating chances, while the summer additions have helped ensure that the attack does not depend entirely on the Portuguese striker. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr celebrates with teammates Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman after scoring. That could make Ronaldo’s eventual return even more interesting. Rather than having to immediately carry the attack, he should be joining a team that has already developed some rhythm and confidence under its new manager. Al-Riyadh vs Al-Nassr: Confirm
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