AFC Champions League Elite: Titleholders Al-Ahli overtake Al-Sadd to continue their unbeaten run

Defending champions Al-Ahli defeated Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-1 in Doha on Tuesday to continue their unbeaten start to the Asian Champions League Elite competitive phase, while compatriot Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia sealed a 3-0 win over Sharjah FC.

Al-Ahli took its third win of the campaign and moved up to 10 points from the first four rounds to finish in second place in the standings, two points behind compatriot Al-Hilal.

Riyad Mahrez put Mattias Jaissle’s side ahead in the 34th minute as the former Manchester City winger took full advantage of the home side’s defensive shortcomings.

Al-Sadd midfielder Claudinho gave up possession deep in his own half as the visitors pressed, and the ball was worked to Enzo Millot, who set up Mahrez to place a clinical shot into the bottom corner beyond Meshaal Barsham.

Claudinho made amends in the 63rd minute when he fired into the top corner to put the Qatari side level, but five minutes later Matheus Goncalves’ left-foot strike from a tight angle had too much power for Barsham to keep out.

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Goals from Steven Bergwijn, Karim Benzema and Roger Fernandes gave Al-Ittihad victory over Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates in Jeddah, as the Saudi champions recorded back-to-back wins in the league stage.

Al-Ittihad lost their first two games in a competition they last won in 2005, but Bergwijn gave the team the perfect start with a well-placed header from twelve yards out in the eighth minute.

Benzema scored the second goal in the 66th minute when the former Real Madrid striker arrived unmarked in the penalty area and lined up from the left in Moussa Diaby’s center and Fernandes slid in to score the third four minutes into stoppage time.

The win moves Al-Ittihad up to sixth in the standings, six points behind Al-Hilal as the 12-team league stage in West Asia reaches the halfway point.

The top eight players from both West and East Asia will advance to the knockout rounds in March, while the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played in Saudi Arabia in April.

Published on November 5, 2025