A star-studded Tuesday dawned with a top-of-the-table clash in the AFC Champions League. Former kings Aaan hosted rivals Hilal from Saudi Arabia in a matchup that felt like a replay of the last quarterfinals. In the past, Aaan had eliminated Hilal in a 5-4 thriller to win the trophy. But this night, Hilal will be out to avenge their past humiliation, even if they have to give up a goal to win the match.
Looking back at the last AFC Champions League quarterfinals, Aaan shocked fans by eliminating title favorites Hilal with three controversial penalties. However, the United Arab Emirates' performance this year has slipped significantly, with only one point in the first two rounds, five goals conceded, and a porous defense that has struggled to withstand Hilal's onslaught. In the league, Aaan's performance is also not satisfactory, currently only ranked in the middle of the table, the players are in low form, and their confidence is greatly affected.
Hilal are winless in all official matches since losing to Aaan in April, even hitting an 11-game losing streak. In the last seven official matches, Hilal have averaged more than two goals per game. With world-class players such as Alexandre Mizouwic, Margan and Rubin Neves in hot form, they are at the top of the Asian game. Tonight, they have vowed to avenge their last loss and go all out in their quest for a clean sweep!
