Cristiano Ronaldo will be absent from the pitch when Al Nassr faces Al Wasl in a crucial Saudi Pro League match on Friday, May 17, 2024. The Portuguese superstar is suspended after receiving a straight red card during his team’s dramatic Saudi King’s Cup semi-final victory over Al Hilal.
The incident occurred in the 86th minute of that heated cup clash. Ronaldo was dismissed for violent conduct after appearing to elbow and push Al Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulaihi. Despite playing with ten men, Al Nassr held on to win 3-1, securing their place in the final against Al Khaleej on May 31, 2024.
As a consequence of the red card, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s disciplinary committee imposed a two-match suspension on Ronaldo. He has already served the first game of that ban, missing Al Nassr’s recent 3-2 league win over Al Akhdoud. The match against Al Wasl will be the second and final match of his suspension.
This means Ronaldo will be eligible to return for Al Nassr’s next scheduled fixture. His presence will be a significant boost as the team from Riyadh continues its pursuit of the league title, currently sitting in second place, trailing leaders Al Hilal by nine points with several games remaining in the season.
The focus now shifts to how Al Nassr will cope without their talisman in this important encounter. All eyes will be on the rest of the squad to step up and deliver a result against a competitive Al Wasl side.
