Al Ahli Saudi to face Auckland in the Confederations Cup

Saudi club Al Ahli, champions of the AFC Champions League Elite, are seeking to secure their ticket to the second round of the Intercontinental Cup, as they face New Zealand’s Auckland City today at the Inma Stadium in Jeddah. The winner of this tie will meet South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the CAF Champions League, in the second round. The victor of this match will also advance to face Mexican champions Toluca, winners of the Copa Libertadores, before ultimately confronting French champions and reigning UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

Al Ahli’s participation follows their triumph in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they defeated Japanese side Machida Zelvia. Auckland City qualified after winning the OFC Champions League, beating Solomon Islands’ Central Coast.

Al Ahli’s Dutch-Bosnian coach, Marino Pušić, emphasized, “We aim to deliver a performance befitting the club’s history and the aspirations of its fans, working to realize their expectations.” He added, “The current phase demands hard work and focus to bring the team to a level that satisfies its supporters and translates ambitions into results and victories.”

Al Ahli are hoping to maintain their strong start to the season and keep their unbeaten record intact for a ninth consecutive match across all competitions. The Saudi side began the new campaign with three victories in the league and cup, after five pre-season friendlies without a win.

The club is undergoing a transitional phase following the departure of German coach Matthias Jaissle to Newcastle United, as well as the exit of several key stars, notably Algerian Riyad Mahrez and Ivorian Franck Kessié, who were instrumental in Al Ahli’s Asian title triumph.

The Saudi side hopes to make amends for their second-round exit last year, when they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Egyptian club Pyramids FC in front of their own fans. The “Black Knights” will aim to produce an upset against one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs.

Auckland City’s Portuguese coach, Pedro Moreira, told the Australian league website, which features his club, “It’s a great match.” He added, “It’s an opportunity to put the club’s name on the global stage. This is important to me. It’s the first image we’ll present to all our supporters. We will try to fight with all our strength.”