Al-Ahli currently holds the top spot in the Asian Champions League Elite standings following a dominant 4-0 victory over Qatar's Al-Gharafa in Jeddah on Monday. The win showcased a commanding performance from the defending champions, solidifying their position as a frontrunner in the competition.
The match, held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, was largely controlled by Al-Ahli, with a "devastating first-half performance". Enzo Millot initiated the scoring in the 32nd minute with a close-range volley that hit the underside of the crossbar before finding the net. Franck Kessie, the former Barcelona midfielder, then scored twice before halftime, first with a header in the 38th minute and again by charging through the defense to receive a return pass from Riyad Mahrez. Saleh Abu Al-Shamat completed the scoring with a fourth goal in the 76th minute.
With this victory, Al-Ahli has accumulated seven points from three games in the western league phase, putting them in a strong position to advance to the knockout rounds in March. They are currently level on points with Al-Wahda from the UAE. Al-Hilal, another team from Saudi Arabia, is in third place with six points from two games.
In other matches, Al-Ittihad secured their first victory of the campaign with a 4-1 win against Al-Shorta of Iraq, despite going a goal behind early in the match. Tractor FC from Iran also recorded a notable victory, defeating Sharjah FC 5-0.
The AFC Champions League Elite is an annual continental club football competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It features Asia's top-division football clubs and is considered the most prestigious club competition in Asian football. The winner of the tournament qualifies for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. The competition was rebranded to its current name in 2024. Twenty-four clubs compete in the league stage, divided into East and West regions. Al-Ahli beat Kawasaki Frontale 2–0 in the 2025 final to become the current champions. Al-Hilal is the most successful club in the competition, with four titles.
