Record in sight

Al Hilal and Pohang Steelers are already out in front when it comes to the number of times they have won Asia’s biggest club prize. The Saudi Arabian and Korean sides have each claimed the title on three occasions and go up against each other aiming to become the first four-time champions.

The Riyadh giants won the Asian Club Championship in 1991 and 2000, while Pohang lifted the now defunct trophy back-to-back in 1997 and 1998. Al Hilal finally got their hands on the AFC Champions League title in 2019, a decade after Pohang won it in 2009. 

The highs and lows

While Pohang have never lost in the final of Asia’s biggest club competition, Al Hilal have experienced both the ups and downs of the showpiece event, with Tuesday’s match-up to be their record eighth appearance in the fixture.

Having lost out in the 1986 and 1987 Asian Club Championship final, Al Hilal also suffered the same fate in the 2014 and 2017 AFC Champions League after going down to Western Sydney Wanderers and Urawa Red Diamonds respectively. 

Repeating the feat

Pohang Steelers midfielder Shin Jin-ho is looking to complete the remarkable accomplishment of claiming back-to-back AFC Champions League titles with two different clubs, and, in doing so, match compatriot Namkung Do, who achieved the feat with Pohang and Seongnam in 2009 and 2010. 

Shin captained the Ulsan side that won nine games in a row to be crowned 2020 champions before moving to East Coast Derby rivals Pohang and playing a key role in their return to the final for the first time in a decade. 

Familiar territory

Although no Al Hilal player has appeared in back-to-back finals, a trio of their squad will make their fourth appearance in the main event if they are selected for Tuesday’s encounter against Pohang. 

Captain Salman Al Faraj, winger Salem Al Dawsari and full-back Yasser Al Shahrani all tasted defeat in the 2014 and 2017 finals before being part of the side that got revenge against Urawa in 2019. If fit, all will likely start once more against Pohang. 

Leading the way

In terms of appearances in the AFC Champions League final by nation, it’s Korea Republic that is out in front. When Pohang step onto the pitch at King Fahd International Stadium, it will be the 10th time in 19 finals that a Korean side has been present. 

By contrast, Saudi Arabia has been represented in seven previous finals, with Jeddah sides Al Ittihad – who lost to Pohang in the 2009 finale – and Al Ahli Saudi having also made it to the showpiece event. 

Bumper attendance

The 2021 AFC Champions League final could see the biggest crowd in the competition since the 2018 final between Persepolis FC and Kashima Antlers, when a record 100,000 turned out for the second leg at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. 

The Asian Football Confederation announced last Tuesday that King Fahd International Stadium will be open for full capacity in compliance with SOPs, meaning there could be as many as 68,000 supporters in attendance. 

Since the 2018 final, the largest crowd recorded was also at Azadi Stadium, in the 2019 group stage between Esteghlal FC and Al Ain, a 1-1 draw watched by 65,178 fans. 

How they fare

Pohang and Al Hilal have never met in the AFC Champions League, but the K League side won the only other time they faced Saudi opposition, beating Al Ittihad 2-1 in the 2009 final. 

By contrast, Al Hilal have lost two from two against Korean sides, going down 1-0 and 4-0 in the first and second legs of the 2012 quarter-finals against Ulsan. 

Goal threat

Of the players who will take to the pitch on Tuesday evening, Al Hilal’s Bafetimbi Gomis is the top scorer, with the Frenchman having netted six times en route to his second final in three years. 

Gomis won the Top Scorer award in 2019 with 11 goals, although to repeat the feat would require a monumental effort. The 36-year-old is currently three behind the tournament’s nine-goal leading scorer Michael Olunga of Al Duhail SC. 

Doubling up

Pohang head coach Kim Gi-dong could become the only person to win the AFC Champions League as both a player and a manager, having also been part of Pohang’s title-winning squad in 2009.

His countryman Shin Tae-yong did, however, win the 1995 Asian Club Championship with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunwa in 1995 before guiding the side to 2010 AFC Champions League glory.

Creative force

Finally, when it comes to those creating the goals, Al Hilal's Mohammed Al Burayk has four assists to his name, more than any other player who will take part in the final as his bursts down the right and expert deliveries have proved a key weapon for the Riyadh club. 

On the other side, 20-year-old midfielder Go Young-joon boasts three assists, while the aforementioned Shin has created a hugely impressive 20 chances for his teammates.