The draw ceremony took place this morning in Kuala Lumpur, with the participation of three Saudi football giants: Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.
A fiery path... Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli on a collision course
In the first leg, Al-Hilal will clash with Qatari side Al-Sadd in a match that carries a special competitive character, given the continental experience and rich history of both teams in the tournament.
In the same vein, Al-Ahli Saudi will face Al-Duhail of Qatar in a difficult and balanced encounter, reflecting the close level and great ambition of both teams to reach the final stages.
A likely scenario: Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli being drawn on the same path opens the door to a possible Saudi summit in the advanced stages, if both teams succeed in passing this stage, which raises the level of public excitement to the maximum.
The path of unity: a test of continental strength
On the other side, Al-Ittihad begins its journey with a match against Al-Wahda of the UAE, in a meeting during which “Al-Ameed” seeks to confirm its strong continental presence.
In the same vein, Iran’s Tractor will meet the UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahli, in a balanced encounter that could largely determine the identity of Al-Ittihad’s next opponent if they qualify.
Legitimate Saudi ambitions
This draw reflects the magnitude of the challenges awaiting Saudi clubs, but at the same time it confirms their strong presence in the continent, especially in light of the great boom that Saudi football is experiencing in terms of contracts and technical support.
