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Aymeric Laporte Sent Off As Cristiano Ronaldo Endures Frustrating Night in AFC Champions League

Aymeric Laporte was sent off and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to shine as Al Nassr lost 1-0 to Al Ain in the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final.

Robert Summerscales

Aymeric Laporte Sent Off As Cristiano Ronaldo Endures Frustrating Night in AFC Champions League
Aymeric Laporte Sent Off As Cristiano Ronaldo Endures Frustrating Night in AFC Champions League /

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night as his Al Nassr side lost 1-0 away to the UAE's Al Ain in the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final on Monday.

The 39-year-old played the full 90 minutes on his return from suspension, having missed last week's 4-4 draw with Al-Hazn due to a one-match ban issued for making obscene gestures during Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al-Shabab.

Ronaldo's rude reaction that resulted in his suspension had come in response to Al-Shabab fans taunting him by singing the name of his rival Lionel Messi.

Al Ain supporters also chanted "Messi, Messi" on Monday but Ronaldo kept his cool on this occasion, despite being visibly annoyed.

Aymeric Laporte did not keep his cool though.

The former Manchester City defender was shown a straight red card in second-half added time for lashing out at Bandar Al-Ahbabi following some jostling for position inside the Al Ain penalty area.

Ronaldo recorded four shots during Monday's match, including two that forced saves out of keeper Khalid Eisa.

His first came at the end of the first half, shortly after Soufiane Rahimi had scored the only goal of the game with a sharp finish following an assist by Paraguay international Kaku.

Ronaldo tried his luck from a tight angle but his stinging volley was well parried by Eisa.

UAE stalwart Eisa then made an even better save to thwart Ronaldo from eight yards in the second half.

Ronaldo was not only frustrated in front of goal.

He also endured an embarrassing moment in the center of the field when he attempted to perform a stepover but, instead of tricking the Al Ain defenders, he ended up tying himself in a knot.

The second leg will take place at Al Nassr's King Saud University Stadium on March 11.

Laporte will be unavailable to play in that game.

Highlights: Al Ain 1-0 Al Nassr

Aymeric Laporte pictured playing for Al Nassr during the 2023/24 season
Aymeric Laporte will be suspended for the second leg of Al Nassr's AFC Champions League quarter-final against Al Ain after being sent off in Monday's first leg :: IMAGO/Power Sport Images/Strigner
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.