Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted as an injury precaution on an uncomfortable night in the AFC Champions League for Al Nassr against Persepolis.
Ali Lajami's first half red card for a studs-up tackle left the Saudi Pro League side playing with 10 men for the majority of the contest against the Iranian outfit.
Al Nassr managed to battle their way to a valuable point, which seals top spot in Group E, and also rubber-stamps Persepolis in second place. The Iranian side have to vie for one of the top three runners' up spots.
The visitors wasted a string of chances to potentially win the game and put Al Nassr's top spot in jeopardy, but the hosts' 10 men stood firm.
WATCH RONALDO IN AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION ON PARAMOUNT+ (US)
Ronaldo, however, appeared to hurt his neck or shoulder in a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand in the second half and was withdrawn by manager Luis Castro before the 80-minute mark.
Earlier in the game, the Portuguese superstar had produced an exemplary piece of sportsmanship as he implored the referee to reverse a penalty decision in Al Nassr's favour. Ronaldo was initially adjudged to have been tripped in the box but he told the referee there had been no contact and, after a VAR check, the penalty was chalked off.
In truth, it was a frenetic and fractious game, with the draw benefitting both sides and Persepolis unable to muster enough chances of quality to claim all three points.
Al Nassr now face an anxious wait on Ronaldo as they prepare to meet Al Hilal in a top-of-the-table clash in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
The Sporting News tracked all the updates and highlights from the AFC Champions League. See how they unfolded.
Al Nassr vs Persepolis live score
| First Half | Second half | Goalscorers | |
| Al Nassr | 0 | 0 | — |
| Persepolis | 0 | 0 | — |
Confirmed lineups:
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Al Aqidi — Sultan, Laporte, Lajami, Ayman — Brozovic, Al Naji -— Mane, Otavio, Ghareeb — Ronaldo
Subs: Madu, Al Fatil, Al-Sulaiheem, Maran, Al-Khaibari, Al-Hassan, Qasem, Al Nemer, W.Ali, Najjar
Persepolis starting lineup (4-3-3): Beiranvand — Alishah, Nemati, Gvelesiani, Kanani — Sarlak, Rigi, S. Rafiei — Esmaeilifar, Zahedi, Torabi
Subs: Faraji, Ahmadi, Sadeghi, A. Rafiei, Maleki, Babaei, Asadi, Milad Sourgi, Hanonov, Omari, Asadbeigi, Bahoui
Al Nassr vs Persepolis live updates, highlights
Analysis: Confirmation then, that Al Nassr have definitely qualified for the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League as this draw cements their spot at the top of Group E. They didn't have everything their own way in Riyadh against a spirited Persepolis, but in truth the red card defined the game – and the Saudi side would have expected to win with 11 men.
A draw is more than satisfactory in the end and it's only Cristiano Ronaldo's slight injury concern that will be playing on the minds of Luis Castro and everyone connected with Al Nassr this evening. It needs no restating how crucial Ronaldo is to this team, especially with that big Al Hilal fixture around the corner.
Persepolis, meanwhile, are going to finish second in Group E but may have to win their final game of the group campaign to be assured of a spot in the Round of 16, as a best runner up.
FULL TIME: There's no winner for either side, despite a late flurry of corners for the Saudi Pro League side. It ends Al Nassr 0-0 Persepolis.
It's a result that, while a little frustrating, will please both sides ultimately. It gives Al Nassr top spot in Group E and Perspolis have second place and will be good value for one of the top three runners' up spots.
95 mins: A counterattack from Ghareeb brings a corner for Al Nassr. Can they nick it here?
93 mins: There's a scramble in the Al Nassr box after a long throw and it falls for Esmaeilifar to shoot, but it's scooped comfortably over the bar.
90 mins: We've had a number of delays in this second half, so it's no surprise to see the fourth official's board display six added minutes. Ghareeb scuffs a long-range shot, as Otavio demands a second yellow for Rafiei for a perceived hand in the face. Nope, not happening.
88 mins: Al Nassr are holding on for this point now; a point that would guarantee them top spot in AFC Champions League Group E. It would also be enough to seal Persepolis in second ... if they can't muster this goal.
85 mins: This game has another injury victim. Not sure whether it's a hamstring issue or a case of cramp but Alishah is heading off on the motorised stretcher and Sourgi is his replacement.
83 mins: The chances just keep on coming for Persepolis. Alishah butchers a great opportunity on the edge of the box and then Bahoui is penalised for a push when Torabi was jinking his way through the defence.
82 mins: Any goal now would surely be the winner. It's Persepolis who are looking the more likely...
80 mins: Al Nassr will really hope Ronaldo isn't injured and his withdrawal is a mere precaution. But that situation is definitely one to watch over the coming days.
78 mins: Ronaldo's evening is over. He's subbed off for Maran, amid more chants of his name from the terraces. He appeared to be feeling his shoulder/neck area after that collision with the goalkeeper, so goes down the tunnel for some treatment.
77 mins: Nothing at note has happened in the past few minutes. Delays, passes, more delays, more passes. Persepolis applying gentle pressure without really looking like they'll score. They keep being caught offside, which is an issue in itself.
73 mins: Ronaldo is the man back inside his own box, defending a corner for his team with a solid volleyed clearance.
72 mins: Some subs. Sadeghi comes on for Zahedi up front for Persepolis, with Sarlak also coming off with an injury, to be replaced by Nabil Bahoui.
70 mins: This is really stop-start stuff now. There's been very little flow to the game since the resumption. Persepolis need to show a bit more intent.
67 mins: Otavio ends up on his backside for the umpteenth time this evening and this time gets the decision from the referee. He's a battling midfielder who's really getting stuck in to help his side.
64 mins: Again, Otavio is down. It's hard to tell whether he's going down easy or not. In fairness, he has been the recipient of some rather robust Persepolis treatment.
62 mins: Still no way through for the away side. You sense they're asserting their dominance, gradually, though. A last ditch challenge denies Sarlak after Laporte dithered on the ball.
60 mins: Tensions are still heightened between the sides. You wouldn't be able to tell that Al Nassr only need a draw from this. They're going all out to win, despite having 10 men and despite being comfortably top of this group.
57 mins: A big chance for Ronaldo! Virtually his first proper opportunity of the game, taking the pass from Otavio, turning and arrowing towards the far corner – but it just whizzes wide. Head in hands for the striker. That was nearly the moment for Al Nassr.
53 mins: Zahedi has the ball in the net for the visitors, but he's rightly flagged offside. So close.
52 mins: Persepolis are pushing hard but cannot find the opening at the moment. Al Nassr looking to counter-punch when possible, through the livewire Ghareeb and the incisive passing of Brozovic.
50 mins: Al Nassr hearts are in mouths for a moment as Laporte is slow to get across to the near post and Rafiei almost turns it in. Just wide.
48 mins: Thankfully for Al Nassr, Ronaldo is ok. The fans chant his name. They can ill-afford to lose their star man. In fact, perhaps Castro will think about withdrawing the No.7 at some stage in this second half, given Al Nassr don't necessarily need to win tonight.
46 mins: A sharp start to the second half from Sadio Mane, who darts down the right and whips in a ball towards Ronaldo. The striker collides with goalkeeper Beiranvand and is clutching his shoulder in pain.
SECOND HALF: We're back under way at King Saud University Stadium. Who will come out on top after the next 45 minutes or so?
HT: This is the key red card moment that has left Al Nassr a man light.
HALF TIME: A frenetic and, at times, fractious half of football comes to a close in Riyadh with the scoreline 0-0. There's been no shortage of action, though, with that red card for Al Nassr's Ali Lajami taking the headlines, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo's sportsmanship with the non-penalty.
All three outcomes are very much possible in this one as the teams catch a breather.
46 mins: We're now into four minutes of stoppage time, as Ghareeb begins to get into the game for Al Nassr. It could easily be more than four.
44 mins: Otavio is again the victim of a heavy challenge, with Alishah booked this time for a clumsy one. Tempers are fraying between these two sets of players. Suspect we'll have a fair few minutes added on to this half.
43 mins: No red card, just an absurdly long delay. We're finally back playing.
41 mins: Otavio has gone down in a heap and Al Nassr want a card for a possible elbow on the attacking midfield. VAR might have a look, as Otavio gets treatment and the players come together...
39 mins: Laporte gets a vital head to Alishah's dangerous-looking ball. At the other end, Al Nassr put in yet another abysmal cross that, presumably, was looking for Ronaldo. It didn't find him.
37 mins: All the chances in this game have fallen for Persepolis. And yet it's the home side who now look the more likely, as they boss the ball probing for an opening.
34 mins: We're in something of a holding pattern now. It's clear Al Nassr have the superior players, and they're enjoying good moments in possession, but Persepolis' extra man is counting for a lot and reducing the hosts' ability to create chances.
31 mins: Al Nassr are regaining a semblance of control, finally. A chaotic opening to this game and going a man down was not what Castro's men needed. A trouble-free and placid evening would have been preferable.
28 mins: A deft turn from Zahedi results in another shot going wide from Persepolis. Al Nassr are getting shut out in midfield at the moment, although Otavio is on the end of a hefty challenge from Sarlak and goes down in anguish.
26 mins: Another chance is registered by the visiting side, but again it's not particularly close. Comfortable for Al Aqidi as he makes the catch from Rigi. Al Nassr are relying on the pace of Mane and Ghareeb on the break now.
24 mins: Tell you what, Persepolis are enjoy themselves at the moment. Torabi ghosts in at the back post and volleys just wide. It was at an awkward height for him. Challenging times for Al Nassr.
22 mins: Mohammad Al Fatil is the man introduced to the Al Nassr defence, with Al Naji making way. Maybe a 4-1-3-1 of sorts from the Saudi side now.
20 mins: Luis Castro looked less than impressed with that decisions when the cameras panned his way. He's preparing a change and a tactical reshuffle as we speak.
18 mins: It seems, following a VAR review, Ali Lajami has been sent off for a studs-up challenge that was quite high on Sarlack. No real choice for the referee after the check, for all Al Nassr's protests.
16 mins: A half-chance for Ronaldo with his head, but he can't get the purchase on it and it's simple enough for Beiranvand in the visitors' goal.
At the other end, Al Aqidi does brilliant to race off his line and smother to stop a potential Persepolis breakaway goal. Esmaeilifar thought he was in! There's a red card given in the aftermath too! Al Nassr are down to 10.
15 mins: A decent effort from Rafiei doesn't quite curl into the far corner for Persepolis. That is their actual first shot on goal, despite the Zahedi chance. Now here come Al Nassr with a bit of space on the break...
13 mins: A first proper sight of goal for the visitors! Zahedi trips through the challenges after a good through-ball but cannot sort his feet out and the goalkeeper Al Aqidi comes to collect. Nearly for the Iranian side. They have a corner now.
10 mins: Brozovic is seeing a lot of the ball early on, albeit Al Nassr aren't penetrating as yet. Here is that incident from earlier on.
9 mins: A little bit of a quieter period has followed that early drama, with Al Nassr seemingly keen to keep the tempo high and Persepolis relying on direct balls up front to launch the odd counterattack. Sadio Mane hasn't found his fluency yet.
5 mins: Ronaldo knows best. The penalty wasn't given. On we go.
3 mins: The referee has listened to Ronaldo and might be reversing his decision! Quite astonishing that the legendary striker was so adamant that is shouldn't be given. We're getting a VAR check anyway...
2 mins: No surprise to see Al Nassr dominate the ball early on. Ronaldo scuffs his chance after a cross came in and the Saudi team have been awarded a penalty for a foul on the Portugal star! Ronaldo, somewhat strangely, is saying he doesn't believe it's a spot-kick. He's telling the referee as such.
KICK OFF: Here we go, then! We're under way.
5 mins before kickoff: In reasonably mild 25C degrees and 33% humidity in Riyadh, Cristiano Ronaldo is about to lead out his team. An expectant home crowd awaits what they, and many of us, believe should be a straightforward Al Nassr victory.
15 mins from kickoff: We're almost ready for this one to begin. The players are taking their final instructions from the managers in the dressing rooms.
30 mins from kickoff: The moment the main man entered the arena earlier. What price a Ronaldo goal or two tonight? Short odds, for sure.
45 mins from kickoff: A friendly reminder that Al Nassr boast a perfect record in AFC Champions League Group E so far, with four wins from four; they're already guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16 and it's merely a case of ensuring top spot tonight. A point would do it.
It's currently Al-Duhail 1-0 Istiklol in the other game in this group, with the Qatari side looking to close the gap to Persepolis in second place.
1 hr from kickoff: CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS – Here's how the sides line up:
- Al Nassr (4-2-3-1): Al Aqidi — Ayman, Laporte, Lajami, Sultan — Brozovic, Al Naji -— Mane, Otavio, Ghareeb — Ronaldo
- Persepolis starting lineup (4-3-3): Beiranvand — Alishah, Nemati, Gvelesiani, Kanani — Sarlak, Rigi, S. Rafiei — Esmaeilifar, Zahedi, Torabi
A helpful graphic...
1 hr, 5 mins from kickoff: Right, team news will be landing very shortly. How strong will Luis Castro go? Given there's a top of the table clash with Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League around the corner, it's an interesting one.
1 hr, 30 mins from kickoff: The stage is set in Riyadh and the hint is that Aymeric Laporte could well be in the starting lineup, despite being an injury doubt before the game.
1 hr, 45 mins from kickoff: If there's one thing we know about Cristiano Ronaldo, it's that he loves individual milestones. So the fact he's not even close to being this season's AFC Champions League top-scorer may irk him. In actual fact, it's a different Al Nassr player: Anderson Talisca has six goals to Ronaldo's three.
The two may end up vying for a sight of goal this evening. We'll see if either or both of them are starting for Al Nassr when official team news lands around an hour before kickoff.
2 hrs from kickoff: Hello and welcome to the The Sporting News' live coverage of this AFC Champions League game. This is actually a far bigger match for today's visitors, Persepolis of the Iran Pro League, who are second behind Al Nassr in the table and in need of one or two more points to rubberstamp their Round of 16 place.
For Al Nassr, it's a chance to make sure of top spot in Group E but just generally continue the good feeling they've generated this season, sitting second in their domestic league and trying to chase down leaders Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo will be licking his lips for goals, should he start.
Al Nassr vs Persepolis lineups, team news
Al Nassr have handed a start to centre-back Aymeric Laporte here as he continues to recover from injury.
Elsewhere, David Ospina has been missing since March with an elbow injury and he remains out, likely until 2024. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the line in a much-rotated side from Luis Castro.
Al Nassr confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Al Aqidi — Ayman, Laporte, Lajami, Sultan — Brozovic, Al Naji -— Mane, Otavio, Ghareeb — Ronaldo
With the visitors needing to win here to have any chance of claiming top spot in the group, they'll be buoyed by the fact that they arrive in Saudi Arabia without any notable first team injuries to deal with at present.
Persepolis confirmed starting lineup (3-5-2): Beiranvand — Nemati, Kanani, Gvelesiani — Rigi, Torabi, S. Rafiei, Sarlak, Esmaeilifar — Alishah, Esmaeilifar
Al Nassr vs Persepolis live stream, TV channel
Kickoff time: This AFC Champions League match at King Saud University Stadium kicks off on Monday, November 27 at 9 p.m. local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That's 6pm GMT in the UK, 1pm for many in the USA and Canada and 2am (Tuesday) for those in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
And here's how various audiences around the globe can tune in to watch the game.
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | — | Paramount+ |
| UK | — | FITE+ |
| Australia | — | Paramount+ |
| Canada | — | — |
| India | — | FanCode |
| New Zealand | — | — |
| Malaysia | — | — |
| Singapore | — | — |
| Hong Kong | — | — |
USA: Broadcast rights for the AFC Champions League in the United States are owned by CBS. All matches will be shown on streaming service Paramount+ while some select matches may also be viewed on CBS Sports Golazo Network, which is a free-to-air streaming service.
While there's no indication of this as of now, it's also possible that CBS decides later in the competition to televise matches on CBS or CBS Sports Network. Any matches televised on either of those two channels would be available to stream on Fubo.
UK: Fans who subscribe to streaming platform FITE+ will be able to stream the match.
Australia: Fans in Australia can watch AFC Champions League matches on streaming service Paramount+ with no television partner yet picked up.
According to the official AFC broadcast list, countries that are without broadcast partners as of yet include Canada and New Zealand among others.