The Saudi football club Al-Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo defeated the Iranian top club Persepolis 2-0 (2-0) in the Asian Champions League (AFC) in the Iranian capital Tehran.
It was the first time in several years that a Saudi Arabian club was welcomed to Iran. There had been diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Riyadh for years, but in March the regional powers in the Gulf announced a resumption of relations.
The goals were scored by Abdulrahman Ghareeb (62nd) and Mohammed Qassem (72nd). Persepolis were down to ten men after midfielder Milad Sarlak fouled Ronaldo in the 52nd minute, after the 28-year-old Iranian had already received a yellow card in the first half.
The match kicked off in front of empty stands. The background is a spectator ban against Persepolis, which was imposed after a controversial post by the club online before their game against the Indian club FC Goa in the 2022/23 season. Police cordoned off the area around the stadium, eyewitnesses reported.
The team arrived from Riyadh with the 38-year-old Portuguese on Monday. Around 1,000 people then gathered in front of the luxury hotel in Tehran, as Iranian media reported. Photos showed chaotic scenes and crowds of fans around the hotel complex and in the lobby. The players stayed in their hotel rooms because of the crowds and a planned training session was canceled, reporters reported.