• Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
  • Al Nassr players arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
    Al Nassr players arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
  • Al Nassr coach Luis Castro arrives at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
    Al Nassr coach Luis Castro arrives at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
  • Al Nassr coach Luis Castro at Zayed International Airport. Reuters
    Al Nassr coach Luis Castro at Zayed International Airport. Reuters
  • Al Nassr players arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters
    Al Nassr players arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Saudi Super Cup. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Abu Dhabi with Al Nassr for Saudi Super Cup


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Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr have a point to prove as they returned to the UAE for the Saudi Super Cup over the weekend.

Al Nassr will take on Al Hilal at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday, hoping for a better outing than the last time they were in the Emirates.

Last month, UAE club Al Ain defeated a star-studded Al Nassr 1-0 in the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarter-final at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. That result proved critical as Al Ain then edged past Nassr in the return leg in Riyadh, winning on penalties to secure a place in the Asian Champions League semi-finals.

However, Nassr have since bounced back well. They are on a run of four straight Saudi Pro League wins, with Ronaldo at the front and centre of their campaign.

Ronaldo notched his second hat-trick in the space of 72 hours as Nassr routed Abha 8-0 in the SPL.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored three goals and recorded two assists in the first half for the nine-time Saudi Arabian champions.

The hat-trick was his third of the league season following his treble in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Al Tai. The Portuguese star leads the league with 29 goals and will be hoping to bring that form to the UAE.

Their opponents on Monday Hilal announced that striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, second behind Ronaldo with 22 goals in the league, is likely to miss the rest of the season through injury.

The Saudi Super Cup moved to the UAE after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced it had entered an agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.

The tournament kicks off on Monday with Al Ittihad taking on Al Wehda at the Al Nahyan Stadium (9pm UAE time), followed by a clash between Al Hilal and Al Nassr at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium (11:30pm). The final takes place on April 11.

Al Nassr coach Luis Castro admitted his side might be fatigued from recent SPL exertions but expects them to go all out for the silverware.

"The Super Cup comes to us too soon. It was a time when we had players to recover from the last games we had," he said.

"However, we have arrived for the game in good condition and are very excited about competing in another competition that we want to win. The time is short, but the players are ready.

"Football taught us not to be afraid of anything. The best way for us to face the unknown is to prepare in the best way we can. A game is something that we always face the unknown. Therefore, our preparation was very focused on ourselves rather than to think about the opponents.

"Obviously, we are playing against a strong opponent. They have strengths and depth in every line.

"But we have prepared in the best way possible to face any challenge that we will encounter. I have a lot of confidence in my players. I have a lot of confidence in my fans. I have confidence in the administration and my staff.

"We hope at the end of the game to be happy and to see our fans happy. I don't think our players are under pressure. I believe we are used to playing these types of games.

"I wish we can entertain the fans with a spectacular game. I think that’s the aim of both teams. I hope it's a great semi-final which we really want to win."

  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during his side's 1-0 defeat to Al Ain in the AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during his side's 1-0 defeat to Al Ain in the AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates after scoring the winner against Al Nassr.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates after scoring the winner against Al Nassr.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi scores the winning goal.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi scores the winning goal.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected.
  • Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi is challenged by Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi is challenged by Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo speaks with the referee.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo speaks with the referee.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates with the substitutes' bench after scoring the first goal.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates with the substitutes' bench after scoring the first goal.
  • Al Nassr's captain Cristiano Ronaldo before the start of the match.
    Al Nassr's captain Cristiano Ronaldo before the start of the match.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the match.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the match.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo attempts a bicycle kick.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo attempts a bicycle kick.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the game.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the game.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo vies for the ball against Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo vies for the ball against Al Ain's Khalid Al Hashemi.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi after he opened the scoring.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi after he opened the scoring.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates his opener.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi celebrates his opener.
  • Al Nassr's captain Cristiano Ronaldo during the toss with Al Ain captain Bandar Al Ahbabi before kick-off.
    Al Nassr's captain Cristiano Ronaldo during the toss with Al Ain captain Bandar Al Ahbabi before kick-off.
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo warms up before kick-off.
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo warms up before kick-off.
  • Al Ain coach Hernan Crespo shouts instructions on the touchline.
    Al Ain coach Hernan Crespo shouts instructions on the touchline.
  • Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi battles with Al Nassr's Aymeric Laporte.
    Al Ain's Soufiane Rahimi battles with Al Nassr's Aymeric Laporte.
  • Al Nassr coach Luis Castro during the game.
    Al Nassr coach Luis Castro during the game.
Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

MATCH INFO

Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:

Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4

Second leg:

Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight

Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.

Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.

Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.

“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.

Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.

Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.

However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.

With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.

In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.

The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.  

The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.

The Book of Collateral Damage

Sinan Antoon

(Yale University Press)

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E640hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%20from%202%2C300-4%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E11.9L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh749%2C800%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
INDIA SQUAD

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Updated: April 07, 2024, 7:34 PM