Cristiano Ronaldo had an evening from hell in Saudi Arabia as Al Nassr succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against title rivals Al Hilal.
Ronaldo reacted at half-time by blowing kisses at the Al-Hilal fans and smiling as he made his way down the tunnel, with the game goalless. Yet the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wasn’t smiling at full-time thanks to a brilliant second half performance from the hosts.
Leaders Al Hilal moved seven points clear of their closest challengers as a late Aleksandar Mitrovic double came after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s opener.
6Bounou missed Ronaldo with the punchCredit: DAZN
6But appeared to make contact on his way downCredit: DAZN
It also ended a 20-game unbeaten streak for Al Nassr, leaving Ronaldo fuming.
Home side Al Hilal took the lead in the 64th minute, but there was plenty of drama between that and Mitrovic’s late brace.
Ronaldo thought he’d scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute, but his stunning first-time volley was just offside, something the 38-year-old furiously disputed.
Then with five minutes to play, Ronaldo lept for a Sadio Mane cross, and got caught up in an almighty tumble.
Morocco hero Yassine Bounou came out to punch the ball clear, but completely missed and ended up on top of Ronaldo.
The Portuguese rolled around in agony, and although replays showed the original punch didn’t make contact, it did appear Bounou came down on his head after.
That was backed up by the former Real Madrid superstar sporting a swollen bottom lip, needing treatment before repeatedly shaking his head at the referee.
He then crossed his arms over suggesting he’d had enough, and he was later seen despondent with his hands on his hips as Mitrovic ended the contest.
6Ronaldo had an issue with his lipCredit: DAZN
6And stared down the refCredit: DAZN
The former Manchester United man wasn’t the only one who let his emotions get the better of him, with manager Luis Castro following his lead.
Castro showed the fourth official the earlier offside on his phone, and later made his way down the touchline to protest the Bounou challenge.
6Luis Castro also fumed at the refereesCredit: DAZN
6There was only one red for taunting fansCredit: DAZN
Both managed to stay on the pitch, but that wasn’t the case for Al Hilal’s Ali Al Bulayhi.
The midfielder was seen taunting the away fans behind the goal after Al Hilal’s second, and referee Wilmar Roldan took no time brandishing a red card.