Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Al Ahli Halt Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite

Saudi side Al Hilal and hosts Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE played out a goalless draw at Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai, in Matchday 7 of the AFC Champions League Elite, in a contest marked by tactical caution and competitiveness, with the final touch missing despite the visitors’ heavy possession.

Al Hilal entered the match aiming to extend their positive run in the continental competition, asserting control from the opening minutes. The visitors dominated possession, moving the ball smoothly between the lines in attempts to break down Shabab Al Ahli’s well-organized defensive shape. However, this superiority in possession did not translate into clear chances, as “the Blue Wave” failed to seriously threaten goal and did not register a single shot on target throughout the match—clear evidence of the Emirati side’s defensive solidity and positional discipline.

Shabab Al Ahli, for their part, relied on a compact defensive approach while looking to exploit quick counterattacks. They managed three attempts on goal, though none were enough to find the net. The hosts maintained their defensive balance for the full ninety minutes, repelling Al Hilal’s repeated advances to secure a valuable point against the group leaders and boost their hopes of qualifying for the next round.

The match saw the absence of several key Al Hilal players for various reasons, which had a relative impact on the team’s overall performance. The Saudi side was without Brazilian Marcos Leonardo, Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, captain Salem Al Dawsari, and newly signed French star Karim Benzema, who recently joined from Al Ittihad Jeddah.

These absences prompted the Al Hilal technical staff to make changes to the starting lineup and give opportunities to several squad players, particularly with qualification already secured.

With this result, Al Hilal moved to 19 points, maintaining their clear lead at the top of Group B and underlining their strong presence in the current edition of the competition. Shabab Al Ahli reached 11 points to sit fifth, keeping their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage alive.

It is worth noting that Al Hilal had already officially sealed qualification for the Round of 16 in the previous round, giving the coaching staff greater flexibility to rotate the squad and rest key players in preparation for upcoming domestic and continental commitments.

This draw comes just days after Al Hilal’s emphatic victory in the Saudi Pro League, when they thrashed Al Okhdood 6–0 in Matchday 21, delivering a standout attacking display that highlighted their physical and technical readiness. As such, “the Blue Wave” continue their steady progress on all fronts, balancing domestic and continental campaigns while harboring ambitious hopes of adding more silverware.

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