al-nassr vs arkadag: Lineups, Form Guide and Matchday Preview
Al Nassr return to Al Awwal Park on Feb. 18, 2026, carrying a slender 1-0 lead into the second leg of this AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 tie. The Saudi side clinched the opening match last week in Turkmenistan courtesy of Abdullah Al Hamdan's strike and now face a disciplined Arkadag outfit that arrives with an intimidating domestic record.
Match context and team form
The return leg kicks off at 1: 15 PM ET on Feb. 18, 2026. Al Nassr head into the fixture on a run of eight straight wins across all competitions and sit second in their domestic league with 52 points from 21 matches. The momentum has been tangible: over the weekend they ran out 2-0 winners away from home, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ayman Ahmed among the scorers.
Arkadag present a very different background. The Turkmenistani side boast an extraordinary domestic record since their 2023 founding, having not dropped a single league point in competitive domestic fixtures. Their continental form has been more mixed: one win, four draws and one defeat in group play, which was enough to navigate to the knockout phase but suggests a step up will be required to unsettle Al Nassr.
The first leg on Feb. 11, 2026 ended Arkadag 0-1 Al Nassr, with Al Hamdan the matchwinner. That narrow margin means the tie is still delicately poised: a single goal for the visitors would flip the balance, while a clean sheet for Al Nassr would leave them favorites to progress.
Tactics, selection and key players
Expect Al Nassr to field a stronger XI than in the first leg, when rotation was used. Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to matchday availability and his presence alters the visitors' defensive priorities: Arkadag can no longer afford to leave space in central attacking zones. Joao Felix has been influential domestically, contributing 13 goals and seven assists in 21 league outings this season, and will likely be central to Al Nassr’s chance creation.
Arkadag will rely on compact organisation and counter-attacking sharpness. Their unbeaten domestic streak should have instilled a strong belief in their systems, and their group-stage campaign showed an ability to grind results out. Defensively disciplined, they will aim to limit big chances and punish any lapses on the break.
Key battle to watch: Al Nassr's creative midfield and wide outlets versus Arkadag's compact defensive shape. If the hosts can stretch the pitch and create overloads, they should engineer more opportunities for their front line. Conversely, Arkadag will look to exploit transitions and set-piece moments to unsettle a crowd that will be expecting a comfortable progression.
What to expect and a straight prediction
Atmosphere will matter. Playing at Al Awwal Park, Al Nassr will have the crowd behind them and that could amplify pressure on Arkadag early in the match. The visitors, however, are not the type to wilt under pressure domestically, and the first-leg scoreline shows they can be kept in check with disciplined defending.
Prediction: Al Nassr should have enough quality to advance, but expect a tense, narrow encounter. A 2-0 home win would reflect Al Nassr’s attacking depth and Arkadag’s stubborn resistance. If Arkadag can land an early away goal, the tie becomes a toss-up. Managers will be mindful of squad rotation and fatigue with domestic campaigns also in full swing, so late substitutions and tactical tweaks could be decisive.
Final scoreline forecast: Al Nassr 2, Arkadag 0 — Al Nassr progress to the quarterfinals on aggregate.
