ACLE Giants Held! Al Ahli & Al Hilal Share the Spoils on the Same Night

🗞️ Match Report: Al-Wahda FC 0-0 Al Ahli (Saudi) & Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai 0-0 Al Hilal

Two key West Region fixtures in the AFC Champions League Elite ended in stalemates, as defending champion Al Ahli (Saudi) and unbeaten leaders Al Hilal were both held by their respective opponents — raising stakes in the race for knockout qualification.

Mahrez & Neves showing ACLE class after two tough battles.

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📊 Match Statistics

🟢 Al-Wahda FC vs Al Ahli

Final Score: Al-Wahda FC 0–0 Al Ahli (Saudi)

Competition: AFC Champions League Elite – West Region (Round 7)

Venue: Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

• Possession: Even battle throughout
• Goals: None — scoreless draw
• Cards: Several yellow cards for disciplinary battles
• Key Moments: Toney and Mahrez involved in build-up threats but no breakthroughs

🔵 Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai vs Al Hilal

Final Score: Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai 0–0 Al Hilal

Competition: AFC Champions League Elite – West Region (Round 7)

Venue: Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai

• Clean sheet for both sides
• Midfield tussle with both teams creating chances but lacking the killer touch in the final third
• Yellow cards punctuated the physical nature of the clash

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🔑 Key Moments

⚽ Al-Wahda vs Al Ahli

• Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez were focal points in Al Ahli’s attack but couldn’t beat the resilient Al-Wahda defense.
• F. Al-Buraikan and Z. Aljohani combined well in build–ups without converting.
• A cluster of yellow cards around midfield reflected the intensity of the battle.

⚽ Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai vs Al Hilal

• Al Hilal’s Malcom and Rúben Neves looked to create chances from deep, but the final ball was lacking.
• Yahya Alghassani and Breno Cascardo tried to unlock the Shabab defense without success.
• The game remained cagey — neither team able to dictate territory for long spells.

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📐 Tactical Battles

📍 Al-Wahda vs Al Ahli

Al Ahli’s approach:

• Typically lined up with a strong attacking core, focused on width from Mahrez and deep runs from Toney, but lacked cutting edge.
• Midfield control was shared, but Al-Wahda disrupted rhythm well.

Al-Wahda’s strategy:

• Low block in defense and sharp counters.
• Discipline and early fouls paid tactical dividends in breaking up Saudi rhythms.

📍 Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai vs Al Hilal

Al Hilal:

• Possession-oriented build-ups with Malcom often drifting centrally to pull defenders.
• Rúben Neves attempted progressive passes, yet options in the box were crowded.

Shabab Al-Ahli:

• Compact lines and quick transitions from Yahya Alghassani.
• Tried to hit on the break, but late final balls drifted wide.

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🌟 Key Players

⭐ Al Ahli (Saudi)

• Ivan Toney — focal point, held up play well but couldn’t convert chances.
• Riyad Mahrez — creative spark, always involved in transition phases.

⭐ Al-Wahda

• Solid defensive effort, notably the back-line maintaining discipline against Saudi forward pressure led by Lucas Pimenta.

⭐ Al Hilal

• Malcom — looked the most likely to break deadlock.
• Rúben Neves — dictated tempo but lacked end product.

⭐ Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai

• Yahya Alghassani and Breno Cascardo — busy on both wings though final delivery could improve.

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📝 Summary

Both matches ended 0–0, demonstrating tactical caution and competitive balance:

• Al Ahli (Saudi) stretched but couldn’t unlock Al-Wahda’s defensive shape.
• Al Hilal — though unbeaten in domestic and continental play — were constrained by a well-organized Shabab Al-Ahli.

These results leave the group wide open. With only one matchday left, qualification battles — especially for the knockout stages — hinge on goal difference and head-to-head results.

Champions League Elite drama is far from over!