Ronaldo’s Goal Drought Continues as Al Nassr Holds Inter Milan to a 1-1 Draw in Friendly Match

In a recent friendly match on July 27, 38-year-old forward Cristiano Ronaldo extended his goalless streak to six games as Al Nassr held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw. The match at Nagai Stadium saw Ronaldo struggling to make an impact against the strong defense of the reigning Champions League 2022-2023 winners. Despite some promising moments, the football icon could not find the back of the net. Let’s delve into the details of the match and Ronaldo’s performance as both teams prepare for their upcoming campaigns.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Al Nassr has been marked by a dry spell, with the Portuguese star failing to score in the past six consecutive matches. The streak began during the team’s pre-season tour, where they faced Alverca, Farense, Celta Vigo, Benfica, and PSG. The lack of goals has become a growing concern for the club, given Ronaldo’s reputation as a prolific goal scorer.

During the match against Inter Milan, Ronaldo struggled to find the space to display his individual skills against the Italian club’s robust defense. He had limited opportunities to shine, with his only noteworthy attempts being a shot saved by goalkeeper Filip Stankovic while offside and a long-range effort that missed the target. The lack of sufficient support from the midfield also hindered Ronaldo’s performance, despite the presence of new signings Marcelo Brozovic and Seko Fofana.

Ronaldo’s teammate, Abdullah Ghareeb, capitalized on a chance in the 23rd minute to break the deadlock. After receiving a brilliant pass from Fofana, the Saudi Arabian winger found the back of the net with a precise shot, beating Inter’s goalkeeper Stankovic.

 

Inter Milan responded quickly to Ghareeb’s goal, reorganizing their tactics and creating several scoring opportunities. Their efforts bore fruit just before halftime when Davide Frattesi headed home Denzel Dumfries’ cross to level the score at 1-1. Despite dominating possession and having more than ten attempts on goal, Inter struggled to convert their chances into goals. Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa, in particular, missed some excellent opportunities. In the second half, Inter continued to disappoint in their finishing. Lautaro Martinez, in particular, squandered three good chances, with his most regrettable miss being a shot over the crossbar from close range. Al Nassr adopted a defensive approach, with Ronaldo, Brozovic, and Fofana being substituted early, limiting the Saudi Arabian side’s attacking prowess. However, they managed to hold on to the 1-1 draw until the final whistle.
Al Nassr will now return to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Arab Club Champions Cup group stage, followed by their Saudi Pro League opener against Al Ettifaq on August 14. Meanwhile, Inter still has two friendly matches against PSG on August 1 and Red Bull Salzburg on August 9 before kicking off their Serie A campaign against Monza on August 19.
As Ronaldo’s goal drought continues, both Al Nassr and Inter Milan have much to analyze and improve upon ahead of their respective upcoming seasons. Fans and football enthusiasts will be eagerly watching Ronaldo’s performance and how both teams fare in their upcoming competitions.