RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Al-Hilal continued their dominant form in the AFC Champions League, securing a 2-1 victory over Al-Duhail of Qatar on Tuesday. New signings Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez both found the back of the net, marking a promising start to their careers with the Saudi powerhouse.
The match, played in the opening round of the elite stage of the competition, saw Al-Duhail take the lead through Algerian forward Adil Boulbina in the 37th minute. However, Al-Hilal responded in the second half with goals from Nunez and Hernandez, turning the tide and securing all three points.
This win also represents a successful debut for Simone Inzaghi as Al-Hilal’s head coach in the Asian Champions League. Inzaghi, who joined the club in June from Inter Milan, will be looking to build on this positive start as his team progresses through the tournament.
The victory comes on the heels of a strong showing from fellow Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli, who overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan 4-2 on Monday. Enzo Millot scored twice for Al-Ahli, leveling the scoreline before Riyad Mahrez and Mohammed Sulaiman added late goals to seal the win.
However, not all Saudi teams enjoyed success in the opening rounds. Al-Ittihad suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Wahda of the United Arab Emirates. Steven Bergwijn gave Al-Ittihad an early lead, but second-half goals from Caio Canedo and Lucas Pimenta turned the game in Al-Wahda’s favor.
Elsewhere in the western zone of the 24-team tournament, Iran’s Tractor SC drew 1-1 with Dubai’s Shabab Al-Ahli, UAE’s Sharjah defeated Qatar’s Al-Gharafa 4-3 in a high-scoring affair and Al-Shorta of Iraq and Qatar’s Al-Sadd played to a 1-1 draw.
Al-Hilal’s win is particularly noteworthy given the recent investment the club has made in its squad. The arrival of players like Nunez, formerly of Liverpool, and Hernandez, from AC Milan, signals Al-Hilal’s ambition to compete at the highest level of Asian football. The club, owned by the Public Investment Fund (75%) and the Al Hilal Non-Profit Foundation (25%), has been actively strengthening its roster in recent transfer windows.
Founded in 1957, Al-Hilal boasts a rich history in Saudi and Asian football. They are record holders for league titles in the Saudi Pro League with 19, and have also secured a record 13 Crown Prince Cup titles, seven Saudi Federation Cup titles, eleven King Cup titles, and five Super Cup titles. On the continental stage, Al-Hilal has won a record eight Asian Football Confederation trophies, including four AFC Champions League titles (1991, 2000, 2019, and 2021).
The club’s recent success extends to the international stage as well. In 2022, Al-Hilal became the first Asian club from outside the host nation to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, ultimately finishing as runners-up. More recently, in July 2025, Al-Hilal achieved another milestone by becoming the first Asian club to defeat a Premier League team, Manchester City, in an official match during the 2025 Club World Cup.
However, Al-Hilal were held to a 0-0 draw by Shabab Al-Ahli on February 9th, dropping their first points of the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite. Despite the draw, Inzaghi’s side remain in a strong position in the standings, five points ahead of Al-Ahli.
The result against Shabab Al-Ahli came after Inzaghi made a number of changes to his starting lineup, with the team already qualified for the last 16. Al-Ahli also drew 0-0 with Al-Wahda in Abu Dhabi.
Qatar’s Al-Duhail secured a 1-1 draw with Sharjah FC, keeping their hopes of qualification alive. Igor Coronado gave Sharjah the lead from the penalty spot, but Adil Boulbina equalized for Al-Duhail, also from a penalty, though it required a retake after the goalkeeper moved off his line.
Both Al-Duhail and Sharjah now have eight points, two ahead of Al-Gharafa, who will have the opportunity to move into a qualifying position when they face Al-Ittihad on Tuesday. Nasaf and Al-Shorta both failed to qualify after a 1-1 draw.
