Al Ain thrash Al Nassr 4-0... Al Hilal defeat Al Gharafa

Al Ain, the Emirati champions and winners of the 2003 and 2024 editions, marked their return to the AFC Champions League Elite with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi visitors Al Nassr yesterday at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, in the opening round of the unified group stage for the West region. Al Ain’s goals came from Moroccan brothers Houssein Rahimi (25th and 63rd minutes) and Sofiane Rahimi (72nd minute), with Greek substitute Yorgos Giakoumakis adding a fourth (85th minute). In another match, Saudi side Al Hilal began their campaign in the competition by overcoming Qatari visitors Al-Gharafa 2-1. Both teams finished the match with ten players after Dutch defender Cresencio Samir was sent off for Al Hilal (32nd minute) and Algerian midfielder Ismail Naceri for Al-Gharafa (32nd minute), both receiving direct red cards. Portuguese forward Ruben Neves opened the scoring for the home side with a penalty in the 48th minute (45+3), and Serbian striker Sergej Milinković-Savić doubled the lead in the 72nd minute. Palestinian substitute Hassan Alaaeldin pulled one back for the visitors in the 92nd minute (90+2).