Koulibaly urges Al Hilal to remain sharp

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025

Koulibaly urges Al Hilal to remain sharp

Jeddah: Kalidou Koulibaly expects Al Hilal SFC to maintain their cutting edge in the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 after the side from Saudi Arabia produced a scintillating performance to defeat Gwangju FC 7-0 in their quarter-final on Friday.

Centre-back Koulibaly was - as were his teammates - flawless as the side from Korea Republic struggled to cope with Al Hilal's attacking strength with seven different players finding the back of the net.

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Focused Al Hilal delight Jesus

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025

Focused Al Hilal delight Jesus

Jeddah: It was, by all accounts, a massive display of firepower but Jorge Jesus insisted that Al Hilal SFC’s 7-0 defeat of Gwangju FC was more than just a show of their awesome arsenal.

A 3-0 lead at the break had all but sealed victory for Al Hilal against their opponents from Korea Republic in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 but the side from Saudi Arabia maintained their high intensity to hit Gwangju for another four, with seven different players finding the back of the net.

Lee: Gwangju’s journey has just begun

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025

Lee: Gwangju’s journey has just begun

Jeddah: Gwangju FC head coach Lee Jung-hyo maintained a positive outlook despite seeing his side dismantled by a rampant Al Hilal SFC in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Friday.

Tournament debutants Gwangju had their backs against the wall from the first blow of the referee’s whistle at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium as they succumbed to a 7-0 defeat. 

Q-final: Seven-star Al Hilal advance in style

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025

Q-final: Seven-star Al Hilal advance in style

Jeddah: Al Hilal SFC were at their majestic best as they cruised to a 7-0 victory over Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday.

Goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Marcos Leonardo and Salem Al Dawsari gave the four-time champions a healthy lead heading into the break before Aleksandar Mitrovic, Malcom, Nasser Al Dawsari and Abdullah Al Hamddan sealed the emphatic victory to set up a semi-final encounter with the winners of Saturday’s Al Ahli Saudi FC-Buriram United quarter-final. 

Preview - QF: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Preview - QF: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Jeddah: Al Nassr Club will not make the mistake of underestimating Yokohama F. Marinos when the sides meet in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Saturday.

Despite Marinos’ domestic woes, which sees them at the bottom of the J1 League standings, Al Nassr head coach Stefano Pioli said there will be no room for complacency as Italian seeks to steer his side to an inaugural AFC Champions League Elite title. 

Preview - QF: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Buriram United (THA)

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Preview - QF: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Buriram United (THA)

Jeddah: Buriram United are prepared to go the distance when they meet Al Ahli Saudi FC in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Saturday.

The Thai League 1 outfit are returning to this stage for the first time since 2013 and will be facing an Al Ahli side who are unbeaten in their last 15 AFC Champions League Elite matches.

Al Nassr’s Bento ready for all possibilities

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Al Nassr’s Bento ready for all possibilities

Jeddah: Bento Krepski said Al Nassr are prepared for all scenarios in their AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 quarter-final against Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.

The goalkeeper believes sufficient preparation has been made to ensure that the Saudi Pro League side will come out trumps even if the match progressed to penalties.

Al Ahli's Firmino eyeing perfect home campaign

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Al Ahli's Firmino eyeing perfect home campaign

Jeddah: Roberto Firmino expects Al Ahli Saudi FC to maximise home ground advantage when they face Buriram United in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday.

The Brazilian forward, who has been in fine form on the continental stage, said he is looking forward to powering Al Ahli’s bid for a first AFC Champions League Elite title.

Marinos’ Nagato out to make up for 2024 disappointment

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Marinos’ Nagato out to make up for 2024 disappointment

Jeddah: Katsuya Nagato has set himself the target of erasing last year’s heartbreak by helping Yokohama F. Marinos win their AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 quarter-final tie against Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr Club on Saturday.

Nagato started both legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final against Al Ain FC which the Emirati side won 6-3 on aggregate, and the left-back understandably wants a happier outcome at Jeddah 2025.

Cools confident Buriram can do it

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

Cools confident Buriram can do it

Jeddah: Facing Al Ahli Saudi FC at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is an opportunity Buriram United are relishing, said Dion Cools ahead of their AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 quarter-final tie on Saturday.

The Malaysian, a key player in the Buriram defence, is excited for the challenge and focused on helping his team reach the next stage.

QF - Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA): Facts & Figures

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

QF - Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA): Facts & Figures

Jeddah: Yokohama F. Marinos and Al Nassr Club are set for a titanic battle when they square off in the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday.

Their quarter-final tie at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium will be a clash between two teams aiming to lift the coveted trophy for the first time.

QF - Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Buriram United (THA): Facts & Figures

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

QF - Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Buriram United (THA): Facts & Figures

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC and Buriram United will continue their bid for the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 title when they square off in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

It promises to be a thrilling encounter with both teams having not won the title before.

The-AFC.com takes a deep dive into the teams' facts and figures ahead of their face off at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.