AFC Champions League Two: In-form FC Goa face a tough away match against Al Nassr

With momentum building on the domestic front, FC Goa now turns its attention back to continental duties as they travel to Saudi Arabia to take on Al Nassr FC in a crucial AFC Champions League Two Group D match at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The Gaurs go into this match full of confidence after a strong performance in the 2025 Super Cup, where they have won two of their last three matches. A convincing 2-0 win over Jamshedpur FC, followed by a dominant 3-0 win against Inter Kashi, has taken them to the semi-finals of the Super Cup.

For Manolo Marquez’s side, this match marks a crucial opportunity to take that domestic momentum onto the continental stage. While it is yet to pick up its first point in the AFC Champions League campaign, FC Goa will look to draw inspiration from its previous encounter with Al Nassr, where it created history by scoring India’s first-ever goal in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two thanks to Brison Fernandes. The Gaurs eventually lost the match 1-2.

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Al Nassr comes into the match looking to respond after a turbulent week in domestic football. The Saudi giants were knocked out of the King’s Cup after defeat to Al Ittihad, before narrowly edging past Al Fayha with a late stoppage time penalty in his most recent Saudi Pro League appearance. Despite the mixed form, the Riyadh-based frontrunner remains a formidable opponent and a clear favorite against the Gaurs.

Head coach Manolo Marquez said before the match: «It is an honor for us to play these kinds of matches, not just for the players, but for all FC Goa fans and for Indian football as a whole. These are moments that everyone will remember for a long time. But we are not just here to admire the stadium or the occasion; we are here to compete in the best possible way against a big team like Al Nassr.»

«We earned this opportunity through a lot of hard work, last season and at the beginning of this season. From beating Al-Seeb in the preliminary round to reaching the semi-finals of the Super Cup, we achieved our first objectives. Now we are in a good moment, the team is confident and we want to enjoy ourselves on the pitch, but the most important thing is that we are here to compete and try to win,» the Spaniard added.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play?

There is no official confirmation on Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability for Al Nassr’s home match against FC Goa. However, the Portuguese has not featured in any of the three matches Al Nassr have played so far in the group stages of the AFC Champions League Two campaign.

There was huge anticipation surrounding Ronaldo’s arrival in India ahead of FC Goa’s home match against Al Nassr, but fans in India were left disappointed as the Portuguese star did not travel, with coach Jorge Jesus saying he decided to rest him.

Published on November 4, 2025