Who: Al Nassr vs Persepolis
When: Monday, November 27, 2023, 9pm (18:00 GMT)
Where: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr FC visited Iran to play Tehran-based Persian Gulf Pro League side Persepolis FC in their opening match of the AFC Champions League in September, Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines as fans and officials scrambled to welcome the Portuguese star.
Fans tracked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s plane, waited for him at the airport, chased his bus, climbed a hill to the hotel where he was staying, and made the Saudi club cancel its training on the first day.
Tehran’s municipality put up large banners welcoming Ronaldo and Al Nassr in several languages, the Persepolis director gave the Portuguese star a handwoven Persian carpet – and apparently a special SIM card so he could have unrestricted internet access – and Ronaldo met with the Saudi ambassador to Iran.
Two months on, the Iranian side are making a historic trip to the Saudi capital Riyadh – their first since the resumption of diplomatic relations between both countries.
The Asian nations agreed to a “groundbreaking” deal, brokered a few weeks before the match in Tehran, to resume home and away football matches between club sides after seven years of competing at neutral venues.
In Tehran, fans were delighted to have Ronaldo in their midst despite not catching a glimpse of the 38-year-old as the match was played behind closed doors.
“Even though we couldn’t go watch that match live because no spectators were allowed, it was still nice to have international stars here. We haven’t had that for a long while,” Saman, a 24-year-old Persepolis fan, told media.
“It doesn’t look like we’re beating Ronaldo in the group stage, but it would be nice to get a win in Saudi Arabia,” Saman said.
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