In the first round of the AFC Champions League quarterfinals, Aaan defeated Hilal 2:0 in four games, a performance that shocked the audience and ended the 34-game winning streak held by Saudi Arabia's Hilal in one fell swoop.
Although surprised by the result of this match, Aaan were eye-catching throughout their AFC Champions League campaign. It's worth noting that they were eliminated in the final round, but that didn't stop fans from respecting them.
Soufiane Rahimi is undoubtedly the lynchpin of Aaan, with the Moroccan international leading the scorers' table with 11 goals. He scored in the first half alone and has scored in all four AFC Champions League matches.
Rahimi has good speed, positional sense, and shooting skills, but the team will need to improve the passing compatibility of his teammates behind him if he wants to improve his efficiency. Aaan's best chance to attack lies in quick counter-attacks.
Hilal's Aidah Shahri contributed only one goal, but it was enough to close the gap. This goal also gave the team hope for victory and I believe they will give their best to score. Milian Govi Shavik's position was changed in the first round of the tournament, and his excellent physical quality and ability to create chances for his teammates will undoubtedly pose a challenge for Aaan.
Before the first round, I mentioned that Aidah Shahri and Magan were the biggest threats for both sides, and as a result, both sides managed to score goals. However, due to the absence of leading scorer Alexandre Mizouwick, they are missing a hitman in the opposition box, which may affect them.
Even though Hilal will be playing at home, I think there could be holes in their defense, which will give Aaan a chance to break through. Therefore, I think Hilal from Saudi Arabia is expected to win the game, but Aaan also has a chance to score and even advance to the final in two rounds.
