A 4-0 defeat by Al-Ain on matchday one left Al-Nassr at the bottom of the AFC Champions League Elite league-stage table. Victory over Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh is now vital if the Saudi Arabian club are to turn things around. Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the team's 41-year-old captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is in peak condition, both physically and mentally. After leaving the Portugal camp following a disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus, the forward played the full 90 minutes and scored in his first game back for his club. "Cristiano Ronaldo is in good shape mentally and physically, and you saw him in the last match, as he played the full game and scored a goal, so I am certain he is in good condition," Postecoglou said of the Portuguese.
The incident during the international break, and his early departure from the squad, raised the prospect of disciplinary action against Ronaldo. Yet he has felt the full backing of the supporters and his manager since returning to his club, which is helping him rediscover his best form ahead of November's international fixtures. For Al-Nassr, three points from this match are the only way to stay in the race for the title.
