Al-Nassr Completes Perfect Group Stage with 5–1 Rout of Al-Zawraa

RIYADH – Al-Nassr signed off on the AFC Champions League Two group stages in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night, dismantling Iraq’s Al-Zawraa 5–1 at Al-Awwal Park. The victory cements a flawless campaign for the Saudi giants, who finish Group D with six wins from six matches.

The headlines leading into the match focused on the continental season debut of Cristiano Ronaldo. Having rested for the previous five group fixtures, the legendary forward returned to the starting lineup to lead a high-powered attack that overwhelmed the visitors from the opening whistle.

First-Half Blitz

The contest was effectively over within the first half-hour. Al-Nassr’s relentless pressing forced Al-Zawraa into early errors, which the home side exploited clinically:

12th Minute: Kingsley Coman opened the scoring with a low drive, setting the tone for a dominant individual performance.
19th Minute: Young talent Wesley doubled the advantage, finishing off a slick team move that left the Al-Zawraa defense stranded.
29th Minute: Defender Abdulelah Al-Amri rose highest in the box to power home a header from a pinpoint corner delivery.
44th Minute: Just before the break, João Félix made it 4–0. The goal was highlighted by a trademark chipped assist from Ronaldo, who showed no signs of rust in his first continental outing of the year.

Second-Half Control

Al-Zawraa showed signs of life early in the second period. Ibrahim Gbadamosi managed to pull one back for the visitors in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a rare lapse in the Al-Nassr backline.

However, any hopes of a miracle comeback were quickly extinguished. Kingsley Coman secured his brace in the 56th minute, restoring the four-goal cushion and allowing Al-Nassr to cruise through the remainder of the match. With the game secured, manager Stefano Pioli opted to rotate his squad, withdrawing Ronaldo and other key starters to manage their workload for the upcoming knockout stages.

By The Numbers: A Historic Group Stage

Al-Nassr’s statistical dominance in Group D has been nothing short of historic:

Statistic	Record
Points	18 (Perfect 6-0-0)
Goals Scored	22
Goals Conceded	1
Goal Difference	+21

What’s Next?

Despite the heavy defeat, Al-Zawraa joins Al-Nassr in the Round of 16, having secured the second spot in the group earlier in the month.

For Al-Nassr, the focus now shifts to the knockout draw. With a squad firing on all cylinders and Ronaldo back in the continental fold, the “Global Club” enters the next phase as the undisputed favorites to lift the trophy.