Turkmenistan’s FC Arkadag will face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr on Wednesday in the first leg of the AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16. The match will kick off at 6:45 p.m. local time at Ashgabat’s Olympic Stadium, which seats more than 45,000 spectators.

Al-Nassr arrived in the Turkmen capital on Tuesday evening and received a ceremonial welcome. Head coach Jorge Jesus told reporters that he was pleased to be in Ashgabat and looking forward to the encounter.

He noted that although Arkadag is a relatively new club, it has already achieved solid results and plays dynamic, intelligent football. According to Jesus, his staff carefully analyzed the opponent and prepared the squad accordingly.

Responding to questions about five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, the coach confirmed that the Portuguese forward did not travel with the team. He explained that Ronaldo often misses away fixtures outside Saudi Arabia due to the demanding schedule, as the club must balance domestic league matches and continental competitions.

In addition to Ronaldo, João Félix, Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman, Marcelo Brozović, Iñigo Martínez and Gabriel Ângelo were also absent from the squad in Ashgabat. Jesus emphasized that another crucial match awaits the team soon, and key players are being rested to avoid excessive workload.

Goalkeeper Bento Mateus stated that Al-Nassr is determined to secure a positive result. Meanwhile, Arkadag head coach Mergen Orazov described the fixture as a valuable opportunity to showcase his team’s potential, assuring that his players are fully prepared. Defender Guýçmyrat Annagulyýew expressed confidence that the club can deliver a performance that will satisfy its supporters.