In an exceptional football night at Jeddah's King Fahd International Stadium, Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad achieved a historic feat with a resounding 7-0 victory over their Qatari visitors, Al-Gharafa, in the seventh round of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League. This win was more than just three points added to Al-Ittihad's tally; it was a powerful statement of strength, breaking two records previously held by their arch-rivals, Al-Ahli.
A resounding victory and a record-breaking performance
Al-Ittihad players imposed their complete control on the match from the opening minutes, delivering a high-level attacking performance and outstanding tactical organization. This dominance translated into a goal fest, as the team managed to score a total of seven goals, achieving the biggest win in this edition of the tournament. With this result, Al-Ittihad broke the previous record held by Al-Ahli after their 5-0 victory over Al-Shorta of Iraq in the sixth round. They also surpassed Al-Hilal's 4-0 win over the same Iraqi team in the fifth round.
Al-Ittihad's achievement didn't stop there; it extended to the overall goal tally in the tournament. Following this seven-goal haul, the team raised its goal count to 18, surpassing Al-Ahli, which had previously led the list of strongest attacking lines with 17 goals, thus establishing the "Tigers" as the most potent attacking force in the continent's premier tournament.
Historical context and strength of Saudi clubs
This resounding victory comes amidst the remarkable progress of Saudi football, which has directly impacted the performance of its clubs in continental competitions. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, is the premier stage where the continent's top clubs compete. Al-Ittihad, the two-time consecutive Asian champions in 2004 and 2005, has a long and distinguished history in this tournament, and this latest triumph confirms its determination to reclaim its continental glory.
The importance and expected impact of winning
Domestically, this historic victory ignites the competition among Saudi Arabia's top clubs and sends a clear message to rivals that Al-Ittihad possesses the necessary tools to compete for all titles. Continentally, this resounding win positions Al-Ittihad as one of the leading contenders for the Asian title and underscores the growing dominance of Saudi clubs in the tournament, thus raising the profile of Saudi football on the international stage and reinforcing its status as a leading footballing force in Asia.
