Rollercoaster matches, tense and taught ties, and the 'Saudi Clasico' saw the 2019 quarter-finals kick off in fine style with the first leg fixtures. Here's what those involved had to say in the immediate aftermath.

Kuala Lumpur: Giuliano has been named as the Toyota Player of the Week after the striker scored in Al Nassr's 2-1 victory over Qatar's Al Sadd on Monday to help his side take a slim advantage in the first leg of their 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-final.

After teammate Abdulrahman Al Dossari had cancelled out Ali Asad's first half opener, Giuliano headed home a well-worked team move on 72 minutes to give Al Nassr a vital lead to take to Doha on September 16.

As well as his goal, which came from one of his five shots on target, Giuliano created five chances for teammates and made 54 passes, 48 of which were completed, as he earned an 8.1 rating.

Another Saudi Arabia-based player, Abdullah Al Mayoof (below), came in second in this week’s rankings after the Al Hilal goalkeeper kept a cleansheet in the 0-0 stalemate with fierce rivals Al Ittihad.

The Riyadh-based side failed to score for the second game running in the competition, having lost the Round of 16 second leg 1-0 to Al Ahli earlier this month. They had scored in six consecutive matches prior to that.

Wingers Andre Carrillo and Salem Al Dawsari provided creativity down the two flanks and attacking pair Sebastian Giovinco and Bafetimbi Gomis combined well to create chances through the centre, but the Al Hilal players wasted chance after chance to a combination of profligacy and impressive goalkeeping by Al Ittihad’s Fawaz Al Qarni.

The game marked a rematch of the 2017 Round of 16 which Guangzhou won on away goals, and while both teams had their chances on Wednesday, the closest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was when Kashima’s Ryohei Shirasaki’s long-range effort struck the woodwork in the dying moments.

But it was two-time champions Guangzhou who had more of the play, with Brazilian Talisca forcing goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae into action on a couple of occasions in a match that was played out in humid conditions in Guangdong.

Two away goals but a 2-0 lead conceded ensures neither Urawa nor Shanghai SIPG will feel completely content after an intriguing first leg at Shanghai Stadium.

While Elkeson has starred for the Guangdong club in the Chinese Super League since returning following a three-and-a-half year stint with Shanghai SIPG, the first leg of the quarter-final against the holders on Wednesday was his first game back on the Continent. 

But, after an entertaining first half in front of a sea of red at Tianhe Stadium, the game petered out somewhat after the interval as Guangzhou failed to record a victory at home for the first time this campaign and the Brazil-born forward endured a quiet night.

Photo: Al Nassr