Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - FC Goa faced a daunting challenge against Al Nassr in their AFC Champions League Two Group D clash at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh. The Gaurs were looking to avenge their narrow 2-1 defeat at home against the Saudi Arabian giants.

Al Nassr, leading Group D with a perfect record, aimed to secure their place in the knockout stages with a victory over FC Goa. Meanwhile, FC Goa, positioned at the bottom of the group, sought to revive their continental campaign with an unexpected win against the formidable Saudi side.

In their previous encounter in Goa, Brison Fernandes etched his name in history by scoring India's first-ever goal in the AFC Champions League group stage. However, his efforts were not enough as Al Nassr secured a 2-1 victory.

Al Nassr entered the match on the back of mixed domestic results, having been eliminated from the King's Cup by Al Ittihad before narrowly defeating Al Fayha in the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo's late penalty secured the win against Al Fayha, highlighting his continued importance to the team.

FC Goa, buoyed by their strong performance in the AIFF Super Cup, aimed to carry their domestic form onto the continental stage. Their confidence was high after convincing wins against Jamshedpur FC and Inter Kashi. However, they faced a sterner test against a star-studded Al Nassr team.

The match started at 11:45 PM IST. FC Goa's probable starting lineup included Tiwarin as goalkeeper, Boris Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Pol Moreno and Aakash Sangwan in defence; Ayush Dev Chhetri and David Timor in midfield; and Brison Fernandes, Borja Herrera, Dejan Drazic and Javier Siverio in attack. Al Nassr's probable lineup featured Bento in goal; Al-Ghannam, Simakan, Martínez and Boushal in defense; Coman, Al-Hassan, Ângelo Gabriel and Yahya in midfield; and Felix and Mane leading the attack.

Despite the promising performance in previous matches, where they showcased intensity and created scoring opportunities, FC Goa's results in the AFC Champions League Two had not reflected their efforts. The team hoped to draw inspiration from their previous match against Al Nassr, where they demonstrated their capability to compete against top-tier opposition.

The encounter held immense significance for FC Goa, as their AFC Champions League Two campaign hung in the balance. A victory against Al Nassr would provide a major boost to their chances of progressing further in the tournament.