Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr opened their AFC Champions League group stage campaign with a dogged 2-0 away win at Iran’s Persepolis.
A terrible pitch at the Azadi Stadium made it impossible for either side to keep possession and create chances as the hosts struggled to fight for a draw from the start in Tehran.
However, Milad Sarlak’s second-half dismissal allowed the visitors to press home their advantage as Abdulrahman Ghareeb scraped home a breakthrough goal.
Defender Mohammed Qassem scored the second goal late on as Ronaldo and Co returned to Riyadh with a hard-earned three points.
Al Nassr Player Rating
GK: Alaqidi – 6.8
RB: Ghanam – 7.7
CB: Amri-7.3
CB: Laporta – 7.1
LB: Nakhli– 8.1
MF: Brozovic – 8.0
MF: Alkhaibari – 7.0
MF: Otavio – 7.7
LW: Mane – 6.8
RW: Ghareeb – 8.9
CF: Ronaldo – 6.5