al-nassr vs arkadag: Ronaldo returns as Al Nassr host Arkadag in decisive ACL2 second leg
The second leg of this AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 tie will be settled this week at Al Awwal Park, where Al Nassr carry a 1-0 edge into home territory. The first leg finished Arkadag 0-1 Al Nassr on Feb. 11, 2026, and the return meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026 with a 1: 15 PM ET kickoff. The visitors arrive with a remarkable domestic record, but face a heavyweight line-up boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Match context and current form
Al Nassr took the lead in the tie with a narrow victory away from home last week, a game in which a rotated side found success through Abdullah Al Hamdan. Since then, domestic form has been strong: Al Nassr extended a winning run to eight matches across all competitions and followed up with a 2-0 league win over Al Fateh, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ayman Ahmed on the scoresheet. In the Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr sit second with 52 points from 21 matches, underlining a campaign that still has momentum.
Arkadag arrive with an extraordinary domestic pedigree. The Turkmenistan club claims an unblemished league record since its founding, with 82 straight league wins. That dominance, however, has not fully translated on the continental stage: Arkadag’s group-stage return in this season’s ACL2 yielded one win, four draws and a loss, leaving them as clear underdogs when matched with a star-studded Al Nassr side.
Tactical outlook and players to watch
The biggest narrative for the hosts is the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the matchday squad. His presence alters defensive priorities for the opposition and gives Al Nassr a potent focal point in attack. Joao Felix has also been influential domestically this season, contributing with double-digit goals and several assists, adding to the visitors’ defensive headaches.
Arkadag’s strength is their cohesion and winning mentality. Their undefeated domestic run speaks to organisation, discipline and an ability to close out matches. To advance, they will likely need to be compact, take advantage of set pieces and punish any lapses from a rotated Al Nassr side. Keeping the tempo measured and looking for quick transitions will be key if Arkadag are to find an away goal and shift the tie on aggregate.
What to expect and a brief prediction
Venue and timing: Al Awwal Park, Feb. 18, 2026, kickoff 1: 15 PM ET. The tie stands at 1-0 in favour of Al Nassr, meaning Arkadag must at least score to change the landscape of the fixture. Expect the hosts to press for an early advantage and for Arkadag to remain resolute and seek moments on the break.
Match management will be decisive. If Al Nassr can combine their front-line star power with control of midfield tempo, they should see out the tie. But Arkadag’s unbeaten domestic run is not to be dismissed; their confidence and organisation could make this a tighter contest than the headline names suggest.
Prediction: Al Nassr 2-0 Arkadag — a victory that would be built on home pressure and clinical finishing, though a 2-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts is by no means out of the question if Arkadag find a way to convert a counterattack.
Key things to watch: Ronaldo’s minutes and influence, how Al Nassr manage rotation between domestic and continental duties, and whether Arkadag can translate their perfect domestic record into a brave showing on Asia’s continental stage.
