Following Brazilian sensation Neymar's dazzling display in the intense Asian Champions League match between Al Hilal and UAE's Al Ain on Monday, football enthusiasts in the UAE have even more high-stakes action to anticipate. On Tuesday, global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will take to the field as his team, Al Nassr, goes head-to-head with Iran's Esteghlal FC in another eagerly awaited fixture.

In a late development, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mandated Esteghlal to secure a neutral venue for their forthcoming encounter against Al Nassr. Initially slated to occur at the Qods City Martyrs Stadium in Tehran on October 22, the game was moved to Dubai due to security concerns. Fans can now gear up for the thrilling contest at Rashid Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm on Tuesday (gates open at 5pm). However, it seems that tickets for this Asian Champions League match have already been snapped up on Platinum List.

The Al Nassr squad arrived in Dubai on Monday, buoyed by their recent winning streak. With four points from their first two games, a victory could significantly propel them towards the second round. The restructured tournament now features two groups of 12, divided into west and east geographic zones, with the top eight progressing to the round of 16.

In the earlier match, Neymar made his comeback after over a year on the sidelines. The Al Hilal forward came on as a second-half substitute in his team's exhilarating 5-4 victory over Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE. The 32-year-old, who hadn't played since suffering a meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during international duty in October last year, was named on the Hilal bench for the first time since his injury. He was introduced in the 76th minute of the Asian Champions Elite clash at the packed Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

By that time, the four-time Asian champions, who top the current Saudi Pro League, were leading 5-3, thanks to goals from Renan Lodi and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and a hat-trick from Salem Al Dawsari. Neymar cannot be registered for the Saudi top-flight until January.

On Monday, Hilal took the lead in the 26th minute when former Newcastle United and Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic set up Lodi on the left, and the ex-Atletico Madrid full-back fired a low shot past Khalid Essa in the Al Ain goal. However, Hernan Crespo's side equalized six minutes before halftime, with Morocco international Soufiane Rahimi netting a cross.

Rahimi was the standout player in Al Ain's Asian Champions League triumph last season, finishing as the top scorer and earning the player of the tournament award. In first-half stoppage time, Hilal appeared to take control of the contest. First, Joao Cancelo, a summer signing from Manchester City, crossed for Milinkovic-Savic to head home unmarked from six yards. Moments later, reigning Asian Player of the Year Al Dawsari sprinted clear of the Al Ain defense, evaded the onrushing Essa, and curled a superb shot into the net.

Al Ain narrowed the gap just after the hour mark through substitute Mateo Sanabria, only for Al Dawsari to score his second of the night from a Milinkovic-Savic pass. Minutes later, Rahimi completed his brace, shifting the momentum once more. Al Dawsari then restored Hilal's two-goal lead with a stunning strike from distance. In the final moments of the allotted injury time, with Hilal down to 10 men after defender Ali Al Bulaihi was sent off for a deliberate handball, Rahimi won and converted a penalty to complete his hat-trick and give Al Ain a glimmer of hope. However, the Saudi champions held on for the victory.

Neymar had limited time to make a significant impact on the game, though he did narrowly miss a shot in the dying seconds of regular time. Hilal now tops the Western region group with three wins from three, while Al Ain has managed just one point.

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