Ronaldo will not play against Pakhtakor in Tashkent, could return on 6 November against Al Hazem

Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in the AFC Champions League away match against Pakhtakor in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Saudi club Al Nassr have travelled to Uzbekistan for Monday's match without him.

Security concerns in Saudi Arabia following recent aggression by Yemen's Houthi rebels have affected the country's top football scene. Because of the situation, a scheduled AFC Champions League match of Al Nassr was postponed a week ago.

In that continuation, the Riyadh club are now playing their next away match in Asia's top club tournament without their main star. Al Nassr are set to face local club Pakhtakor in Tashkent on Monday.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou decided not to include Ronaldo in the squad for this match. According to the report, alongside the Saudi security situation, the physical protection of the players was also taken into consideration.

According to the coach, he took the decision considering the extra pressure of the current schedule and the fatigue of long air travel. For the same reason, two other important members of the team, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan, have also been left out of this tour along with Ronaldo.

Ronaldo needs only 15 more goals to touch the rare milestone of one thousand goals in his professional career. Just last week he proved he was in form with a superb hat-trick within 15 minutes in the Saudi Pro League.

But his absence from the Champions League match means the star's wait to reach the milestone has become a little longer. As Ronaldo's alternative, Al Nassr have included young forward Abdulrahman Sufyani in the squad this time.

The decision has disappointed local football fans in Uzbekistan who were waiting to see the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in the stadium, according to the report. For now, coach Postecoglou has to handle the challenge of the continental competition by resting his experienced stars.

After the international schedule break, Al Nassr will take the field on 6 November in the domestic Saudi Pro League against Al Hazem. The club authorities and supporters expect Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the team's eleven at full strength in that match.