Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr are one of three powerhouse Saudi Arabian clubs bidding for AFC Champions League glory when the revamped knockout rounds begin Friday in Jeddah.
Rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite, the tournament’s quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will all be hosted in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 3. With the home advantage and heavy investment in global stars, Saudi sides Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli are frontrunners to lift the title at the 62,000-seat King Abdullah Sports City.
Al Hilal and Al Ahli both went unbeaten in the West Zone league stages, while Al Nassr closely followed, securing the top three spots. Ronaldo, now 40, has netted seven goals in the tournament and remains determined to claim his first AFC crown.
Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli is confident: “I always have great confidence in the players because of our hard work in training,” he said. “We know that we are on the right path.”
Their first hurdle is Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos, last year’s finalists, who are currently struggling and recently sacked coach Steve Holland. Despite being bottom of the J.League, Yokohama advanced past Shanghai Port with a commanding 5-1 aggregate win in the Round of 16.
Elsewhere, Al Ahli — boasting stars like Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez, and Roberto Firmino — face Thailand’s Buriram United, aiming for an all-Saudi semi-final clash with Al Hilal. Mahrez remains focused: “Holding the finals in Jeddah will help us, and we will give everything we have to win the title.”
Al Hilal, four-time champions, face South Korea’s Gwangju and are backed by a strong squad including Aleksandar Mitrovic and Portuguese duo João Cancelo and Rúben Neves. Gwangju, making their debut, remain undeterred. “We are not afraid and will fight to defy the odds,” said technical director Jang Ki-bong.
Winners from these matchups could meet Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale or Qatar’s Al Sadd in the semi-finals, as Asia’s top clubs vie for continental supremacy under the desert lights of Jeddah.
