A calculated draw for Al Hilal after sealing Asian qualification early
The match between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli ended in a goalless draw, in the encounter held this evening at Al Rashid Stadium, as part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Al Hilal dominated possession with 64% control of the ball, but their superiority failed to produce real danger, as the team did not register a single shot on target throughout the match.
On the other hand, Shabab Al Ahli relied on solid defensive organization, managing only three attempts on goal, yet securing a valuable point against the group leaders.
The match witnessed the absence of several key Al Hilal players, most notably Marcos Leonardo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Yassine Bounou, Salem Al Dawsari, and Karim Benzema, due to various reasons.
With this result, Al Hilal raised their tally to 19 points, maintaining their position at the top of Group B, while Shabab Al Ahli reached 11 points in fifth place.
Al Hilal had already secured qualification for the Round of 16 in the previous round, allowing the coaching staff to rotate the squad during this fixture.
This draw comes just days after Al Hilal’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Al Okhdood in the 21st round of the Saudi Pro League.
