Paktakor vs Al-Nassr Riyadh: preview
We have the lineups for the Paktakor vs Al-Nassr Riyadh match in the fourth round of the AFC Elite Champions League 2026/27. In the fourth round, the away team that plays poorly, "Al-Nassr", heads to Tashkent without its stars to face "Paktakor", which knows how to defend.
Key points
Paktakor
1. In recent weeks, Paktakor did not play with much confidence, but broke the bad streak this weekend. Paktakor occupies second place in the Uzbek league, but the October stage proved difficult for Hamoliddin Tajiev’s team: after drawing with "Navbahor" (1:1) in the league and with "Al-Kadisiya" in the AFC Champions League (1:1), the Tashkent side were beaten by "Neftchi" (1:3) and "Al-Jawiya" (0:1). Only this weekend did their players break the winless streak, defeating "Khorezm" (1:0) away.
In the LCL, the situation is much worse: after three matches, Paktakor has only two points thanks to draws with "Al-Ahli" (1:1) and "Al-Kadisiya" (1:1), after which they lost 0:1 to "Al-Jawiya".
2. In the league match, Tajiev protected the leaders
In the encounter with "Khorezm", Hamoliddin Tajiev tried to protect the leaders for the league meeting. Bashar Rasan, Akmal Mozgovoy and Flamarion started on the bench, but appeared during the game and should be in the starting lineup against "Al-Nassr". Additionally, Paktakor’s league match was played with a personnel disadvantage due to the expulsion of Zaida Takhshin at the end of the game, making him unavailable for the next Super League round, but allowing him to be used without hesitation in the Champions League.
3. Paktakor plays poorly in attack, but also does not allow opponents to create moments
Paktakor plays quite poorly in attack in international matches. In three games, they scored only two goals: one against "Al-Ahli" (1:1) and another against "Al-Kadisiya". In the game against "Al-Jawiya", the Tashkent side dominated the initiative after halftime, but did not take advantage of several opportunities. On the other hand, Tajiev’s players’ defense looks quite good: although they conceded a goal in each of the previous matches, only one goal in total. Partly, the credit goes to the goalkeepers, who regularly saved their team.
Al-Nassr Riyadh
1. In the league, "Al-Nassr" competes for first place, but in the Champions League they need to add points
"Al-Nassr" continues the fight for the top spot in the Saudi league: after 12 rounds, Ange Postekoglu’s team has accumulated 28 points and sits in second place, just behind "Al-Kadisiya" on goal difference with one game in hand. In October, the Riyadh side beat "Al-Diriya" (3:0), "Neom" (1:0), "Al-Faisali" (3:1) and "Al-Holud" (5:3). The last meeting was especially productive: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat‑trick that changed the course of the game.
In the Champions League, results are still uncertain: after the defeat to "Al-Ain" (0:4) in the first round, the Riyadh side beat "Neftchi" 3:1, and the match with "Al-Waslem" was postponed.
2. "Al-Nassr" heads to Tashkent without Ronaldo, Simakan and Koman
The most important news before the match: the coaching staff’s decision to leave out Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Simakan and Kingsley Koman from the squad. Instead, Postekoglu included the 18‑year‑old striker Abdulrahman Sufiani. The team returned to the general training after a muscle injury, but it is still too early to travel to Tashkent. Given the very tight schedule, the decision to leave out the three leaders seems reasonable, albeit risky, considering the not‑so‑good position in the LCL table.
3. In away matches, "Al-Nassr" has more difficulties than at home, especially in the Champions League
In the game against "Al-Faisali" in Al‑Majme last weekend, "Al-Nassr" achieved a 3:1 victory and thus broke the streak of three away games without a win. However, the Riyadh side still faces difficulties in away matches. The only away Champions League game this season, "Al-Nassr" lost 0:4 to "Al-Ain", and in the last four LCL away matches, the Riyadh side failed to win three (one loss and two draws), and in those three matches they did not score any goal, while the only victory was achieved in a home game against "Yokohama Marinos" in Saudi Arabia (4:1).
Lineup approximations
4-1-4-1-4-2-3-5
Kuvvatov 5
Purligandji 55
Abdumajidov 8
Saitov 22
Karimov 23
Bo'riyev 21
Rasan 9
Ibragimov 27
Sabirkhodjaev 50
Flamarion 29
Hussein 24
Krepski 5
Al-Amri 26
Martines 12
Bushal 70
Aman 11
Costa 20
Borges 29
Garib 10
Mane 9
Al-Hamdan 79
Felix
Betting trends
Prediction
Paktakor vs Al-Nassr Riyadh 02.11.2026 17:45
Paktakor occupies second place in the Uzbek league, but October proved difficult for Hamoliddin Tajiev’s team: the Tashkent side could not win in four consecutive matches until last weekend when they beat "Khorezm". In the LCL, however, the team has only two points after three rounds. The main advantage for the home side in the LCL remains the defense: in the Asian competition, they conceded no more than one goal per game, largely thanks to the reliability of the goalkeepers.
"Al-Nassr" also performs successfully in the Saudi league, where they occupy second place and have one game in hand, but in the LCL they are still not as convincing: after the defeat to "Al-Ain" and the win over "Neftchi", the Saudi club has only three points. Moreover, in away Asian competition matches, "Al-Nassr" did not win in three of the last four matches and did not score any. In Tashkent, the Riyadh side left without Ronaldo, Simakan and Koman, which further complicates the task on an already difficult trip, and that further balances the opponents’ chances.
Prediction: 1-1
