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#ACLElite - Matchday 6 (West): 3 Takeaways

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday 6 (West): 3 Takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Six of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ (West) proved to be a fascinating affair.

The-AFC.com highlights three takeaways from a pulsating round with the battles to resume in February, 2026.

#ACLElite - MD6 (West): In numbers

Thu, 25 Dec, 2025

#ACLElite - MD6 (West): In numbers

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Six (West) of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ more than lived up to expectations.

Amazing comebacks, narrow wins and elimination were all served on a platter and the-AFC.com picks out several facts and figures that caught the eye.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-al-ittihad-club-ksa-1-0-pfc-nasaf-uzb

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-al-sadd-sc-qat-4-2-shabab-al-ahli-uae

Victory is all that matters, says Al Ittihad’s Benzema

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

Victory is all that matters, says Al Ittihad’s Benzema

Jeddah: Karim Benzema was both relieved and delighted after Al Ittihad Club returned to winning ways in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over PFC Nasaf at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

The Saudi Arabian side had to be patient against a resilient Nasaf defence before Benzema struck in the second half, his decisive effort lifting Al Ittihad to nine points and bringing an end to the Uzbekistan side’s hopes of reaching the Round of 16.

Mujica: Al Sadd never stopped believing

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

Mujica: Al Sadd never stopped believing

Doha: Hat-trick hero Rafa Mujica attributed self-belief as the key factor for Al Sadd SC’s dramatic 4-2 comeback win over Shabab Al Ahli in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.

Trailing 2-0 following goals from Federico Cartabia and Yahya Al Ghassani, Al Sadd appeared on the brink of elimination before Mujica turned the match on its head with a superb treble, with Tarek Salman adding a fourth as the Qatari side registered their first win of the campaign to keep their hopes alive.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md6-al-ittihad-club-ksa-v-pfc-nasaf-uzb

MD6: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 1-0 PFC Nasaf (UZB)

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

MD6: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 1-0 PFC Nasaf (UZB)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad Club returned to winning ways in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ after edging PFC Nasaf 1-0 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

Karim Benzema’s second half effort took the Saudi Arabian side to nine points and at the same time, ended the Round of 16 hopes of their visitors from Uzbekistan.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md6-al-sadd-sc-qat-v-shabab-al-ahli-uae

MD6: Al Sadd SC (QAT) 4-2 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

MD6: Al Sadd SC (QAT) 4-2 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Doha: Al Sadd SC staged a stunning fightback as they came from two goals down to beat Shabab Al Ahli 4-2 in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.

Goals from Federico Cartabia and Yahya Al Ghassani looked to have secured Shabab Al Ahli their Round of 16 spot but Rafa Mujica struck a hat-trick with Tarek Salman contributing the fourth as Al Sadd registered their first win of the season to their hopes alive. 

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-al-gharafa-sc-qat-1-0-al-wahda-fc-uae

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-al-shorta-irq-0-5-al-ahli-saudi-fc-ksa