RIYADH: Two down and four to go. The group stage of the AFC Champions League is starting to take shape and already there are teams that have an awful lot to do if they are to maintain their presence in the tournament going into the knockout stage.
Some are looking good and the feeling around the Al-Nassr camp has improved massively after a 3-1 win over Al-Sadd, one of the favorites for the competition. Al-Hilal collected three points with a comfortable 2-0 win over Shabab Al-Ahli while Al-Ahli bounced back from their opening game mauling to take a 1-1 draw with Al-Duhail.
Teams increased to 40 across 10 groups
Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai facing tough competition from former winners
Almost four months after Korea Republic s Ulsan Hyundai defeated IR Iran s Persepolis FC in the final of the 2020 AFC Champions League, Asia’s elite clubs will embark on the quest for a new title with the start of the group stage this Wednesday.
With the number of teams increased to 40 and several clubs participating for the first time, this year’s tournament is expected to throw up a surprise or two. To mark the occasion,
FIFA.com previews the latest edition of Asia’s premier club competition.
Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad clash in must-win, season-defining Saudi Classico arabnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from arabnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
RIYADH: While Bafetimbi Gomis and Odion Ighalo get the goals and the headlines for Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab, respectively, it may be Al-Ittihad defender Ahmed Hegazi who makes the difference in Saudi Arabia’s title race this season.
That is the opinion of Rhys Williams, and he should know. Al-Qadisiyah’s Australian center-back has faced both Al-Ittihad and Al-Shabab in recent weeks and is gearing up to take on Al-Hilal on Saturday.
The battle for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title is now a three-way race thanks to the form of Al-Ittihad who have come up along the rails to third place and within striking distance of top spot.
RIYADH: A look at the leading goal scorers in the 2020-21 Saudi Pro League reveals something interesting, instructive, and above all inspirational.
The fact that they are all foreign is not a surprise, but the following should be: Three out of the top five are banging them in for teams in the lower reaches of the table and all arrived in the country with relatively little fanfare.
Signing big names for big fees excites the fans and media but clubs, especially those that invest in scouting and recruitment, can make stars as well as import them.
HIGHLIGHT
Form of Al-Batin striker, Abha’s Carlos Strandberg prove not only big-money signings thrive in SPL.