Mild weather expected for Al Hilal vs Al Gharafa AFC Champions League match in Riyadh

The AFC Champions League Elite kicked off with mixed results for UAE clubs. Shabab Al Ahli claimed a 1-0 win at home against Iranian side Tractor, thanks to an opportunistic strike from Brazilian-UAE international Yuri Cesar. Al Wasl, on the other hand, suffered a 2-1 defeat in Saudi Arabia to Al Qadsiah. Shabab Al Ahli's Brazilian-born player Cesar capitalized on a Tractor mistake to score the winning goal in stoppage time.

Al Ahli Saudi, the defending champions, had to rely on a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against Pakhtakor. Goalkeeper Vladimir Nazarov put up a strong defensive performance, but Flamarion scored five minutes from time to give Pakhtakor the lead. Firas Al Brikan leveled the score in the third minute of stoppage time, salvaging a point for Al Ahli.

Al Ittihad faced tough competition from Al Shamal, who scored a goal through Baghdad Bounedjah in the first half. However, Georginio Wijnaldum, the club's summer signing, equalized with a goal in the 94th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Al Ittihad's German coach Jens Wissing reflected on the match, acknowledging the difficulty they faced against a strong team. He remained optimistic, stating that the team did not lose hope and that it was a fair draw.