Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr headline a trio of big-spending Saudi golf equipment chasing continental supremacy because the revamped AFC Champions League Elite enters its ultimate stretch Friday on house soil.
Saudi Arabia will host the quarterfinals, semifinals and ultimate of Asia’s top-tier membership event from April 25 to May 3, with all eyes on Jeddah’s 62,000-seat King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Fueled by a surge of European star energy, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli are main title contenders.
All three flexed their may within the West Zone group levels, with unbeaten runs by Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, whereas Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr have been shut behind – securing the highest three spots and reinforcing Saudi dominance.
Portugal’s Ronaldo, the previous Manchester United and Real Madrid star, continues to be going robust at age 40. He has scored seven targets within the competitors this season as he chases a primary AFC Champions League title within the twilight of his glittering profession.
Al-Nassr coach Stefano Pioli believes his facet, which misplaced within the quarterfinals final 12 months, can go all the best way.
“I always have great confidence in the players because of our hard work in training,” mentioned the previous AC Milan boss. “Sometimes the results do not do us justice, but we know that we are on the right path.”
First, his staff should overcome final 12 months’s shedding finalists, Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan, who’re in disaster after sacking supervisor Steve Holland final week – lower than 4 months after the previous England assistant to Gareth Southgate took cost.
Yokohama sit backside of the J.League with only one win from 12 matches, however they topped the East Zone after which defeated Chinese champions Shanghai Port 5-1 on mixture within the spherical of 16.
Toney, Mahrez hearth up Al-Ahli
“Things haven’t been going well for us, but it’s about what we do next,” Yokohama midfielder Riku Yamane mentioned after a defeat of their first recreation beneath interim supervisor Patrick Kisnorbo final week.
“We need to all be on the same page about how we want to play – including the small details.”
The winners will meet both one other Japanese facet, Kawasaki Frontale, or Qatar’s Al-Sadd within the semifinals.
Al-Hilal, searching for a record-extending fifth Asian title, will face South Korean debutants Gwangju.
The Saudi champions have allowed Brazilian celebrity Neymar to return to Santos, however they will nonetheless name on expertise similar to Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Portuguese duo João Cancelo and Ruben Neves.
“Al-Hilal are a good team – like most West teams are, and to be honest, they’re better than teams from the East,” mentioned Gwangju technical director Jang Ki-bong. “But we are not afraid, and we will fight to defy the odds and do everything we can to compete against them.”
Al-Ahli additionally boast a humiliation of riches, together with former Premier League forwards Ivan Toney, Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.
They face Thailand’s Buriram United, with victory establishing a possible all-Saudi semifinal towards Al-Hilal.
“Holding the finals in Jeddah will help us, and we will give everything we have to win the title,” mentioned former Manchester City winger Mahrez.
Source: www.dailysabah.com