Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Al Nassr laid down a marker in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 with a commanding 5-0 victory over Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol in their Group D opener on Wednesday.

Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, and with Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović and Kingsley Coman starting on the bench, Jorge Jesus’ side were relentless from the first whistle at Al Awwal Park.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb set the tone early, his cross causing chaos in the fourth minute before the winger opened the scoring 10 minutes later with a precise finish that deflected off Kirill Suslov.

Three minutes later, Ghareeb burst down the flank and teed up Angelo for the second.

Istiklol nearly capitalized on a defensive error just before half-time when Ghareeb’s misplaced back pass found Manuchehr Dzhalilov, but the forward blazed over from close range.

Al Nassr resumed control after the break, with Wesley producing a brilliant solo effort in the 59th minute to make it 3-0.

The introduction of Brozović, Coman and Mané in the closing stages only underlined the gulf in class.

In the 89th minute, Brozović fed Coman, who rifled home his first continental goal, before Mané added a stoppage-time strike to complete the rout.

The emphatic win confirms Al Nassr’s status as early favorites for the ACL Two crown.

Their next test comes away to Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC on October 1, while Istiklol will host India’s FC Goa.