Big Asian Nights: Al Ahli and Hilal Chase ACL Elite Glory as Rivals Jostle for Momentum

Overview of the Elite ACL Group Stage

The AFC Elite Champions League continues as Al Ahli Saudi FC, the defending champions, host Al Gharafa in the third round. On the other side of the schedule, Al Hilal look to solidify their lead atop Asia by welcoming Al Sadd to Riyadh. The league’s top clubs are jockeying for position in a competition designed to elevate both the level of play and the marketing profile of Asian football.

Teams, Form, and Key Returns

Al Ahli enters the match hoping to rebound after a 1-1 domestic league draw with Al Shabab and a 2-2 continental road draw with Al Duhail. They are aiming to reclaim the winning tone against their Qatari visitors, having faced Qatari clubs 26 times in ACL contests with 11 wins to 8 for the Qataris. Ahli currently sit second in the group with four points, level with Sharjah and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai.

Coach Matias Jaissle acknowledged the tough nature of the last game, noting that more chances and danger in attack were needed. He added that selection always hinges on results and that the team would respond once the goals start flowing again. Ahli are hopeful to welcome back Brazil’s Roger Ibanez and Wenderson Galino, both sidelined recently.

Gharafa are chasing balance after back-to-back domestic defeats, seeking momentum after a win against Police in the opening round of the competition.

In Riyadh, Al Hilal aim to consolidate their top spot by hosting Al Sadd at the Kingdom Arena. Hilal boast a historical edge over Qatar’s clubs, with 24 wins in 42 meetings. The campaign began with wins over Duhail and Nasaf, while Al Sadd seeks their first win after draws with Police Iraqi and Sharjah.

Hilal have been in excellent form, registering four consecutive victories across competitions and remaining unbeaten in their last ten matches. After their 5-0 league victory over Al Ettifai, coach Simone Inzaghi said the squad’s focus returned quickly after the break and the international players came back in peak form.

Al Ittihad started with two defeats and will travel to Iraq on Monday to face Police. Karim Benzema and Steven Bergwijn were not fit to play, while Algerian midfielder Houssam Aouar has returned from injury. Benzema is set to miss the Police match to prepare for the big clash with Hilal in the upcoming Saudi Pro League encounter.

Also on Monday, Al Wahda and Sharjah FC host Al Duhail and Tractor Sazi Tabriz respectively. Al Wahda have begun the season in style, sitting second in the UAE league with a 22-match unbeaten run across all competitions, and Kaio Canedo stressed the importance of support as the team faces a heavy schedule.

Sharjah will try to halt a string of Emirati draws against Tractor Sazi, while Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai welcomes Nasaf Qarshi, who sit bottom with zero points but arrived off a surprising 1-0 win in Jeddah against Al Ittihad. The Elite edition of ACL, launched in 2024, features 24 clubs drawn from the continent’s strongest leagues, aiming to raise both the quality of football and its commercial appeal. The competition highlights clubs from Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, and the UAE, and is designed to push the very best teams to higher levels of performance and visibility.

Punchlines: If football were a sniper, the only thing that would miss is the defense—the ball would still find the net eventually. And my fantasy team? It’s so good even the referee asks for my lineup tips.