Cristiano Ronaldo takes the night off! Al-Nassr stroll to victory on opening night of AFC Champions League action against Tajik minnows FC Istiklol

The game barely had time to settle before Abdulrhman Ghareeb struck inside the first quarter, sending the home crowd into raptures. His opener set the tone for what was to come: a night of relentless pressure and ruthless execution. Just minutes later, Angelo Gabriel doubled the lead, gliding past defenders and slotting home with ease to give Al-Nassr a commanding 2-0 advantage by the break.

If Istiklol harboured faint hopes of clawing their way back, those dreams were obliterated just before the hour mark. Brazilian striker Wesley pounced with trademark sharpness to make it 3-0, effectively sealing the contest. From that point on, it was no longer about the result but the margin. Kingsley Coman, ever the menace on the wing, added his name to the sheet with a crisp finish in the dying stages. And just when Istiklol thought the nightmare was ending, Sadio Mane hammered home in stoppage time to complete the demolition at 5-0.

Reports in Saudi media confirmed that Ronaldo was indeed at the stadium but chose not to feature. Instead, the Portuguese superstar spent time in the indoor gym, undertaking light training sessions and recovery work, including massages. His absence gave the spotlight to his teammates, who grabbed the chance with both hands.

After the final whistle, Jorge Jesus downplayed the emphatic scoreline and instead praised the opportunity to experiment.

"An important match, not because we won 5-0, but it was great for the participation of more than six players this season," he said. "Our goal is to find alternative solutions from this tournament, and it gave me a great idea about many of the players.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see their idol back in action. Ronaldo is expected to return for Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League clash with Al-Riyadh on Saturday. The Riyadh giants have already made a flying start domestically, winning their opening two league matches, and are determined to extend their perfect record.