Al-Zawraa — Al-Nassr Riyadh : Match Preview and Prediction for October 01,2025

Al-Zawraa’s Strong Start

The Iraqi club began their group stage campaign with a confident 2-0 away victory against India’s Goa. This result already signals that we are dealing with a serious and well-organized team. Al-Zawraa knows how to play for a result and achieve their goals even on the road, and on their home stadium in Baghdad, with the support of their fans, they will be even more dangerous.

Home Advantage and Team Morale

The home-field advantage plays a colossal role here. Coach Abdul Ghani perfectly understands the opponent’s strength but urges his players to focus on their game and not be intimidated by big names. This indicates sound preparation and psychological resilience from a team that is not prepared to surrender prematurely to a formidable opponent.

An Unbreakable Defensive Record

Most importantly, I want to draw your attention to their rock-solid statistics. In 20 consecutive matches, Al-Zawraa has not lost by more than one goal. This is not a coincidence but a consistent trend, pointing to a well-established defensive system and strong team character. They simply do not allow themselves to be routed.

The Absence of Cristiano Ronaldo

The key news that completely alters the dynamics before this match is that Al-Nassr arrives in Baghdad without Cristiano Ronaldo. The coaching staff, led by Jorge Jesus, decided to grant the 40-year-old Portuguese rest to avoid overexertion and injuries. This decision fundamentally changes the attacking potential of the Saudi giants.

Historical Performance Without Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s absence is not just one less player in attack; it’s the loss of their main finisher, leader, and the man who single-handedly decides the outcomes of matches. Al-Nassr’s statistics in Asian tournaments without him speak for themselves: draws were recorded against Al-Shorta (1-1), Persepolis (0-0), and Istiklol (0-0), as well as a 1-2 defeat to Al-Sadd. This is direct proof that without their talisman, Al-Nassr becomes a much more vulnerable team.

Further Squad Concerns

Furthermore, Al-Nassr’s personnel problems are not limited to Ronaldo alone. Defender Saad Al-Nasser, along with midfielders Sami Al-Najei and Abdulmalik Al-Jaber, are in the infirmary. Added to this is the coaching decision regarding the absence of Brazilian Wesley. This means we are seeing not their main squad, but a noticeably weakened lineup heading into a very challenging away match in Iraq.