Al-Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou is waiting on a decision regarding goalkeeper David Ospina Alaqidi's availability ahead of the team's Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Fateh, according to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah.
The club's medical staff are yet to give the green light on Alaqidi, who has been a key figure in goal. The uncertainty leaves Postecoglou with a selection headache for the fixture, which marks the start of the new domestic season.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature in the match. Both CNN Arabic and Riyadh daily reported that the Portuguese forward is absent from the squad for the Al-Fateh game. The reports did not specify the reason for his absence, but his omission was confirmed in the official lineup announcements.
In other team news, Arriyadiyah reported that midfielder Ali Al-Khaibari is set to start against Al-Fateh, while defender Alex Telles is expected to begin on the bench. The selections suggest Postecoglou is opting for a more defensive setup in Ronaldo's absence.
The build-up to the match has been complicated by a disrupted training schedule. Sabq newspaper noted that Ronaldo did return to training ahead of the fixture, though his comeback was not enough to earn him a place in the starting XI.
Al-Nassr will be looking to start their title challenge with a win, but the combination of Ronaldo's absence and Alaqidi's fitness doubt leaves Postecoglou with limited options. The coach's final decision on the goalkeeper position is expected shortly before kickoff, with the club's fans hoping for positive news on both fronts.
