Al Nassr change tactics as Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman miss Abha match

Al Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has altered his starting plan for Wednesday’s Roshn Saudi League meeting with Abha after losing Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman.

The match will be played at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, with Postecoglou forced to make changes in attack and midfield because of suspension and injury. Al Nassr are third in the league table on 12 points, three behind leaders Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah, who have played one more match.

Saudi forward Abdullah Al-Hamdan has been selected to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the centre of the attack. The change comes after Portugal international Joao Felix became unavailable through an accumulation of yellow cards.

Felix’s absence means Ronaldo will have a new partner in the forward line for the home fixture. Al-Hamdan has been brought into the attacking role as Postecoglou reshapes his side for the sixth round of the competition.

There is also a change on the right wing, where Brazilian player Angelo has been chosen in place of Kingsley Coman. The France international is missing because of an injury.

Postecoglou has made another adjustment in midfield, with Abdullah Al-Khaibari coming into the side to play alongside Samo Costa. The move completes a series of changes across the team as Al Nassr prepare to face Abha.

At the back, Spanish defender Inigo Martinez returns to the starting line-up and is set to partner France international Mohamed Simakan. His inclusion follows an injury problem for Abdulelah Al-Amri.

The alterations leave Ronaldo as the only unchanged headline figure in an attack that has lost both Felix and Coman for the fixture. Al Nassr’s revised approach reflects the absence of two key attacking players, while the defensive change gives Martinez a return to the team.

Al Nassr arrive at the match with four victories and one defeat from their opening five league games. That record has given them 12 points and placed them third in the standings.

Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah are both three points clear of Postecoglou’s side, although each has already played one additional game. The result against Abha could therefore affect Al Nassr’s position in the early league table, with the Riyadh club attempting to maintain pressure on the teams above them.

The fixture is the sixth-round meeting in this season’s Roshn Saudi League and is being hosted by Al Nassr at Al-Awwal Park. Their line-up includes Al-Hamdan alongside Ronaldo in attack, Angelo on the right, Al-Khaibari in midfield and Martinez in central defence as Postecoglou responds to the unavailability of Felix, Coman and Al-Amri.