Al-Hilal shift focus to Asian Champions League SFs as it continues a four-title bid
ABU DHABI: The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema haven’t been able to halt Al-Hilal’s dominant run in Saudi Arabia’s domestic soccer league. Now it’s the turn of AlAin of the United Arab Emirates to come up against this seemingly unstoppable force in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League.
Al-Hilal is in contention for an unprecedented collection of four titles. The first trophy was secured last week when Malcom scored twice for the club in a 4-1 win over Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup final. With seven games in the Saudi Pro League remaining, the Blues are 12 points clear of Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. On April 30, the Riyadh-based club will meet Al-Ittihad of Jeddah in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup, a domestic knockout competition.
Al-Hilal also has its sights set on a record fifth continental title, though is expecting a challenge Tuesday against the
Hernan Crespo coached AlAin, the 2003 champions who ousted Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League quarterfinals. “We have only won one trophy and there are three more to go for,” defender Ali AlBulaihi told Saudi Arabian TV ahead of the continental semifinals. “Al-Hilal is a system and everyone at the club from the bottom to the top works hard and this is the reason for success. We are not afraid of any team and we are ready for any challenge.” Despite being without injured striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, the joint leading scorer in this season’s Asian Champions League, and Brazilian
superstar Neymar, AlHilal is still in great form. The Super Cup victory over Ittihad extended its world record winning streak for top tier teams to 34 games. While Al-Hilal is strongly favored to overcome Al-Ain and progress to next month’s final, the meeting in the eastern zone — Asia’s top continental club tournament is divided into two geographic halves until the final — appears closer to call. The eastern zone playoff is between last season’s champion of South Korea and Japan’s runner-up as Ulsan HD, Asian champions in 2012 & 2022, welcomes Yokohama F. Marinos.