Al Nassr faced challenges in their Asian Champions League opener, drawing 1-1 against Al Shorta in Baghdad without star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sidelined by a viral infection. The Saudi team initially took the lead with a goal from Sultan Al Ghannam but conceded shortly after due to a defensive mix-up. Meanwhile, fellow Saudi club Al Ahli secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Persepolis, with Franck Kessie scoring in the first minute and Ivan Toney making his Asian debut despite missing a penalty opportunity. Al Ain, the defending champions, also started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Al Sadd. The tournament features 24 teams divided into two groups, with each side playing eight matches to qualify for the knockout stage. The absence of Ronaldo and other key players raised concerns about Al Nassr's performance in this revamped tournament.