Prior to the Saudi Pro League match against Damac, the Portuguese star had been in exceptional form, scoring a total of seven goals in three matches, which included two consecutive hat-tricks against Al-Tai and Abha. Nevertheless, Luis Castro made the decision to exclude Ronaldo from the starting lineup on Friday evening against the team placed eighth, who had not won in their previous three matches, suffering two losses and a draw.
Without key players like Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, and Sadio Mane, Al-Nassr struggled to penetrate Damac’s robust defense despite their efforts. Therefore, Castro was compelled to implement them in order to manipulate the match in their own advantage. The adjustments proved advantageous for the Knights of Najd as they appeared more formidable after their insertion. Ultimately, this resulted in success as Laporte scored in stoppage time off a Brozovic corner, securing the team’s triumph.
After the match, Ronaldo took to Instagram and wrote: “Another important win! 💪”.
Al-Nassr is now in pursuit of Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League championship, however, they are currently trailing by a margin of 12 points with only seven matchdays left. Ronaldo’s statement clearly indicates that they are determined to continue their pursuit and are fully prepared to conclude the season on a high note by triumphing in the remaining matches. However, the Saudi League is temporarily suspended and the 39-year-old player will return to play in the Super Cup against Al-Hilal on Monday evening, aiming to secure a place in the final.
