RSL clubs flying high at halfway stage in Champions League Elite

Midway through the AFC Champions League Elite group phase, and Saudi Arabian sides occupy the top two spots in the standings.

There were wins, in fact, for all three Roshn Saudi League representatives in round four of the continent’s premier club competition, to leave Al Hilal top of the West Zone standings and the only team in the entire competition - East and West - to boast a 100 percent record.

The 2023-24 RSL champions’ 2-1 victory at Qatar’s Al Gharafa on Monday made it four wins from four, maintaining their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 season across all competitions.

Thanks to goals from recently anointed AFC Asian Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari and young Brazilian Kaio Cesar, Al Hilal have now won nine matches on the bounce. The record four-time Asian champions, with manager Simone Inzaghi settling nicely, are certainly purring.

“I thank everyone for their hard work; it was a collective effort from all the players,” said Cesar, who was named Player of the Match against Al Gharafa.

"We played a good match, scoring two goals and I was chosen as the best player. This reflects the team's work throughout the week and since the beginning of the season.

“Today's match is a continuation of that work. I always give my all, whether I play or not. We all try to work collectively, and I give everything I have and wait for my chance. I will give everything to achieve victory.”

Sitting second in the table, also unbeaten through four Champions League matches, are reigning Asian champions Al Ahli. The Jeddah side, who in May captured a historic first continental crown, have reeled off three wins and a draw in their four fixtures.

On Tuesday, Al Ahli also triumphed in Qatar, and 2-1 as well, when they saw off Al Sadd courtesy of goals from Riyad Mahrez and Matheus Goncalves.

“The match unfolded as we expected,” manager Matthias Jaissle said. “Al Sadd don't allow you to press high all the time. We were prepared to adapt to different phases of the game with both high and low pressing, and we succeeded in achieving our main objective: securing the three points.

“We will continue to perform at the same level in the upcoming matches to achieve even more.”

The very next match comes in the form of this weekend’s high-profile Sea Derby against city rivals Al Ittihad in the Roshn Saudi League.

While both teams have not enjoyed the finest starts to the domestic campaign - Al Ahli sit fifth, with Al Ittihad eighth - the two come into the clash off the back of strong performances in Asia.

For Al Ittihad, they continued their continental revival with a dominant 3-0 success on Tuesday at home to UAE outfit Sharjah, an encounter that saw 2022-23 RSL winner Igor Coronado return to Alinma Stadium.

However, goals from Steven Bergwijn, Karim Benzema and Roger Fernandes means Sergio Conceicao’s side climb to sixth in the West Zone standings after opening their campaign with two defeats.

Conceicao, formerly of FC Porto and AC Milan, was appointed only last month as successor to RSL title-winning manager Laurent Blanc.

“We prepared well for the match, and everyone saw our performance,” said winger Moussa Diaby, the RSL assist master, who teed up Benzema for Al Ittihad’s second. “We created many chances, and we knew how tough the opponents were.

"We weren't successful in converting some of those opportunities, but our team has high potential and quality, and we will shift our focus now to the derby match in the domestic league.

“We have a great head coach who has worked at big clubs and has a lot of experience that we benefit from. We also have great players. He came to help us, and we are implementing what he asks of us as players.”