Saudi clubs continued to dominate the AFC Champions League , with the nation's representative (Al-Hilal) taking the lead in the West Asia group standings, while its brother (Al-Ahli) secured second place, following a round characterized by competitiveness and excitement, which ended with goalless draws away from home against Emirati teams.
Al-Hilal returns with a valuable point from Dubai
In a high-stakes tactical encounter at Rashid Stadium in Dubai, Al Hilal managed to secure a goalless draw against their hosts, Shabab Al Ahli. Al Hilal's coaching staff opted for a lineup featuring several reserve players to rest their regulars, yet the "Leader" displayed the character of a champion and successfully challenged the home side, who fielded their strongest possible lineup.
The match nearly saw several goals, with Brazilian striker Bala posing a real threat were it not for the brilliance of young goalkeeper Mathieu Batui. In the second half, Al-Hilal's attacking tempo increased with the introduction of top stars like Brazilian Malcom and Portuguese Ruben Neves, whose powerful shot flew just over the crossbar. The match ended goalless, leaving Al-Hilal with 19 points and firmly in control of the league standings.
Al Ahli asserts its dominance in Abu Dhabi
Meanwhile, in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, specifically at Al Nahyan Stadium, Al-Ahli Saudi returned with a point after a draw against their hosts, Al-Wahda. The match saw Al-Ahli dominate possession, with Ivorian striker Franck Kessié threatening the goal with a powerful shot that went just wide, while Al-Wahda goalkeeper Ahmed Zayed made a brilliant save to deny Algerian Riyad Mahrez.
The match witnessed a controversial moment after English striker Ivan Toni succeeded in scoring, but the referee's whistle canceled the goal due to a foul on defender Ibanez, so the two teams shared the points of the match, and Al-Ahly raised its tally to 14 points in second place.
Saudi hegemony and the continental context
These results reaffirm Saudi Arabia's continued dominance in continental competitions, a continuation of a long history of achievements in the AFC Champions League. This current edition of the "Elite" tournament holds particular significance as it is the first under the new format, bringing together the continent's strongest teams. Maintaining the top two positions in the standings serves as a strong indicator of the Saudi clubs' readiness to compete for the title.
This performance reflects the great development in the Saudi Professional League, as attracting international stars has contributed to raising the technical value of the matches, and has made Saudi clubs the most prominent candidate always in Asian forums, which enhances the Kingdom’s position as a major sporting power in the Asian continent.
Group standings and decisive matches
With these results, Al Hilal remains in first place with 19 points, followed by Al Ahli in second with 14 points. Al Wahda of the UAE also has 14 points, placing them fourth, while Shabab Al Ahli sits in fifth with 11 points. All eyes now turn to the next round of matches scheduled for February 16th, where Al Hilal will host Al Wahda, while Al Ahli will face Shabab Al Ahli in Jeddah. These matches will be crucial in determining the qualification spots for the knockout stages.
