Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia player Angelo Gabriel, right, battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League Elite West Region football match between Iraq's Al-Shorta and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr at the Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP )

BAGHDAD, Sept 17, (AP): Without an ill Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia drew with Al-Shorta of Iraq 1-1 in the first-ever game revamped and rebranded AFC Champions League Elite on Monday. Ronaldo was left behind in Riyadh because Al-Nassr said the Portugal superstar, who has won five UEFA Champions Leagues but has yet to win a major trophy with his current club, had a viral infection and could not travel to Baghdad. Sultan Al-Ghannam put Al-Nassr ahead after 14 minutes though Mohammed Dawood leveled 10 minutes later.

There was another blow for Al-Nassr as Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic left the field injured early in the second half. Al-Ahli, another of Saudi Arabia’s three star-studded teams in the tournament, beat Persepolis of Iran 1-0 in Jeddah. Former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie scored in the first minute. Ivan Toney, signed from English Premier League club Brentford in August, made his Asian debut for Al-Ahli but the England striker could not get on the scoresheet.

Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez missed a second-half penalty but Al-Ahli held on. Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates, which in May was the last winner of the Asian Champions League which has been replaced by the more streamlined Elite, started with a 1-1 draw against Al-Sadd of Qatar. Elsewhere, Esteghlal of Iran defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0. The 24 teams were divided into two groups of 12, divided into east and west geographic zones, and each played eight games. The top eight from each group progresses to the round of 16.