The 2-0 victory in the first round was undoubtedly a triumphant symphony on the battlefield for Hilal. Hilal had already shone like a sunrise before the match and was regarded as the favorite to win the title in the fierce competition at the Etihad.
In my opinion, Hilal has surpassed Etihad in all aspects of the technical and tactical aspects of the game. The homegrown players are strong, the foreigners have integrated quickly into the team, and a pair of wingers have been a great help in spreading the team's wings in their homeland of Alessandria.
Attacking locks Aidoo Hamidi and Magan have an impressive partnership on the right, and Ittihad will have to be on the lookout for the threat they pose. Aidah Shahri, on the other hand, has scored in two consecutive matches in the AFC Champions League and will continue to play the role of a team killer in the knockout rounds.
Rubin Nieves and Milian Govind Szafarz will be in charge of the midfield to ensure that Hilal's defense will be impenetrable, after all, Etihad's core player, Nikolaj Jandi, will be absent due to suspension. However, is there any hope for Etihad to pull off an upset? The fervent support of the home fans will help them, and if they can score right from the start, the game will become more and more tightly knit. However, it will be extremely difficult for them to net two goals.
Fabinoux Tevaris will take the key role in the midfield, but his performance is not as stable as Nicolou Gendi. Therefore, I think Etihad not only lacks the soul of the midfield, but also lacks the spirit of creativity.
Hadara will be able to strike a blow if they can capitalize on their chances. However, with star player Binschmar doubtful and striker Romano Lenno's form slipping, Etihad's problems have come to a head.
Etihad certainly have players in their squad who can create threats, but they are clearly not as balanced as their arch-rival Hilal in terms of offense and defense. I have a feeling that this game will be a goal fest with Hilal coming out on top.
