West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal march on, Shabab Al-Ahli beaten

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal march on, Shabab Al-Ahli beaten

Beirut: Reigning AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal continued their domestic dominance as they widened the gap at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings while UAE Pro League pacesetters Shabab Al-Ahli suffered their second defeat of the season.

Qatar powerhouses Al Duhail and Al Sadd registered big victories in the Qatar Amir Cup Round of 16 while Al Qadsia shared a scoreless draw with Kuwait SC but remained at the top of the Kuwait standings.

The pacesetters in Bahrain, Oman and Palestine were unchanged. Join the-AFC.com as we review the latest round of action in West Asia.

Preview MD1 - Group A: Al Shorta (IRQ) vs Esteghlal FC (IRN)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview MD1 - Group A: Al Shorta (IRQ) vs Esteghlal FC (IRN)

Erbil: Al Shorta SC of Iraq will kick off their 2020 AFC Champions League campaign on Monday when they host Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal at Franso Hariri Stadium in Group A.

Safety reasons mean the Baghdad-based side have to play their home matches 220 miles north in Erbil, with the first challenge of the campaign pitting them against Tehran giants Esteghlal.

Preview MD1 - Group A: Al Wahda FSCC (UAE) vs Al Ahli Saudi SC

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview MD1 - Group A: Al Wahda FSCC (UAE) vs Al Ahli Saudi SC

Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates’ Al Wahda and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli aim to improve on their 2019 AFC Champions League results as they lock horns at the start of their respective 2020 campaigns at Al Nahyan Stadium on Monday.

Both sides saw their progress cut at the Round of 16 last year; Al Wahda were beaten by Al Nassr 4-3 on aggregate, while Al Ahli succumbed to rivals Al Hilal with the same result.

Preview MD1 - Group B: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) vs Shahr Khodro FC (IRN)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview MD1 - Group B: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) vs Shahr Khodro FC (IRN)

Dubai: Al Hilal SFC kick-off their AFC Champions League title defence at Al Wasl Stadium against Islamic Republic of Iran debutants Shahr Khodro FC on Monday.

The Saudis lifted the coveted trophy in Saitama back in November, becoming the first West Asian side to be crowned champions since Al Sadd in 2011.

Preview MD1 - Group B: Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview MD1 - Group B: Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Tashkent:  Shabab Al Ahli Dubai return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2017 with a trip to Tashkent to face FC Pakhtakor in Group B on Monday.

AFC Champions League finalists in 2015 as Al Ahli FC, the Emirati side were merged with fellow Dubai-based clubs Al Shabab and Dubai SC to form Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, and as a result were ineligible to play in the competition for two years.

Al Hilal picked as ACL Club of the Decade!

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Hilal picked as ACL Club of the Decade!

Kuala Lumpur: Al Hilal SFC's excellence in the AFC Champions League has seen them voted as the ACL Club of the Decade by fans. 

Al Hilal lifted the trophy in 2019 after twice having to settle for runners-up finishes as they saw off some tough challengers from a decade that had seen nine different AFC Champions League winners.

The results can be viewed HERE but let's take a look at the nominees once again ahead of a new decade of the AFC Champions League kicking off on Monday.

Five new signings set to light up #ACL2020

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Five new signings set to light up #ACL2020

Kuala Lumpur: Teams across the Continent have been busy bolstering their squads with top talent, domestic and international, as they gear up for another challenge in Asia’s top club competition.

Ahead of the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage kicking-off on Monday, the-AFC.com looks at some of the biggest names signed over the past few months who could make the difference for their new clubs in the continental competition.