Al Hilal will look to cement their place as the top team in the western zone of the AFC Champions League Elite after suffering a first defeat in their domestic league in 46 matches at the weekend.
A brace from Abdullah Al Salam and a late tap-in from veteran Fabio Martins secured a famous victory for Al Khaleej at the expense of defending champions Al Hilal at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium on Saturday, inflicting a first defeat on the Saudi Pro League giants since May 2023.
The result was made all the worse as Al Ittihad's win over bottom side Al Fateh saw the Jeddah club leapfrog Hilal into top spot in the SPL table.
“We knew that the victories would not continue because this is football,” said Hilal forward Marcos Leonardo. “We have to work and achieve victory in the next match in the AFC Champions League Elite.”
While Jorge Jesus' side suffered a setback domestically, in Asia they have looked unbeatable.
Hilal are top of Group B having taken maximum points from their four games, including a thrilling 5-4 win over reigning Asian champions Al Ain in October and a 3-0 win over Esteghlal last time out.
They travel to Qatar to take on 2011 Asian champions Al Sadd on Tuesday night (8pm UAE) knowing victory will guarantee them a place in the last 16.
Hilal can call on top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has netted four times in Asia already this season, but will be without the injured Neymar.
The Brazilian is only eligible to play in Asian competitions but the 32-year-old forward is still recovering from the hamstring injury sustained against Esteghlal of Iran earlier in November.
UAE champions Al Wasl are also on the road on Tuesday as they make the trip to Iraq to face Al Shorta (8pm).
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Fabio De Lima is mobbed by teammates after completing his hat-trick in the UAE's 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Qatar in Abu Dhabi on November 19, 2024. Reuters -
UAE players and coaching staff celebrate after the win over Qatar at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AFP -
UAE's Fabio De Lima celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal at the Al Nahyan Stadium. AFP -
UAE fans during the match in Abu Dhabi. AFP -
Fabio De Lima scores from the spot to make it 2-0 just before half-time. AFP -
UAE forward Fabio De Lima celebrates after putting his team 1-0 up in the fourth minute. AFP -
UAE attacker Bruno during the win over Qatar. AFP -
Marcus Meloni of the UAE under pressure from Qatar's Abdelrahman Moustafa. Reuters -
UAE's Fabio De Lima celebrates after scoring the first of his four goals. AFP -
Qatar midfielder Abdelrahman Moustafa under pressure from Marcus Meloni of the UAE. AFP -
UAE fans before the game at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Reuters -
UAE's players ahead of the match in Abu Dhabi. AFP
Wasl are in fifth place in the table having collected seven points from their four matches. Coach Milos Milojevic will look to talisman Fabio De Lima, fresh from his star turn in the UAE's rout of Qatar in last week's World Cup qualifier in which he bagged four of the national team's five goals, to carry that form into the Champions League as Wasl chase a place in the last 16.
The new format of the AFC Champions League sees 24 teams divided into two groups of 12 with eight from each progressing to the knockout rounds after playing eight matches.
