AFC Champions League League Phase West - 8
Al-Hilal Saudi FC 2 - 1 FT Al Wahda FC
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
8' P. Mari
13' A. Darisi
19' D. Nunez (R. Neves)
B. Diarra (O. M. Khribin) 32'
HT
57' S. Bouabre
61' ↓ A. Darisi ↑H. Al Yami
61' ↓ M. Al Hawsawi ↑S. Milinkovic-Savic
61' ↓ P. Mari ↑S. Mandash
70' ↓ M. Al Harbi ↑N. Al Dawsari
↓ Caio Canedo ↑A. Abdullah 71'
F. I. Ogbu 74'
77' D. Nunez (S. Mandash)
79' ↓ M. Meite ↑S. Al Dawsari
↓ O. M. Khribin ↑B. Folha 79'
↓ Jadsom ↑M. Dehghan 87'
↓ B. Diarra ↑A. Pradas 87'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Al-Hilal Saudi FC
Goalkeepers
Mohammed Al-Rubaie 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ali Lajami 
ENFORCER
8
Tackles
8
Tackles
11
Duels Won
85%
Win %
Pablo Marí
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Yusuf Akçiçek 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Abdulkarim Darisi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Rúben Neves 
ARCHITECT
9
Key Passes
9
Key Passes
1
Assists
69%
Pass Acc
Murad Al Hawsawi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Moteb Al-Harbi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
Saimon Bouabre 
MAGNET
66
Activity
66
Activity
48
Passes
18
Duels
Darwin Núñez 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Mohamed Kader Meite 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Mathieu Patouillet 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ahmad Abu Rasen
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hamad Al Yami
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kalidou Koulibaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Saad Al Mutairy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sergej Milinković-Savić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nasser Al-Dawsari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Salem Al-Dawsari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayan Al-Ghamdi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdulla Zaid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sultan Mandash 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
31
Minutes
6.6
Rating
Al Wahda FC
Goalkeepers
Zayed Ahmed 
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
2
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Guga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Saša Ivković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Favour Inyeka Ogbu Ogbu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bader Abaelaziz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Brahima Diarra 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.9
Rating
Jadsom
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Abdullah Al Menhali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Caio Canedo
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Facundo Kruspzky
MAGNET
53
Activity
53
Activity
29
Passes
24
Duels
Omar Kharbin
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
45%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Hazaa Ammar
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mohamed Hasan Alshamsi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mohamed Ali Hussain Abdulla Alobaidi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mansour Saleh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haza Shehab
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdullah Abdulqader
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bernardo Folha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohamed Abdalla
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mobin Dehghan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammad Ghorbani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Louay Trayi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arnau Pradas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +11
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -14
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +11
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -14
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Núñez Clinical as Al-Hilal Tighten Grip on Top Spot
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. A clinical brace from Darwin Núñez proved the difference as Al-Hilal edged a stubborn Al Wahda to maintain their unbeaten streak and consolidate their position at the summit.
The Kingdom Arena Fireworks
The atmosphere at Kingdom Arena was electric from the jump as Al-Hilal Saudi FC sought to assert their dominance. The Intensity was high, with the home side moving the ball with purpose and precision. Rúben Neves was the architect in chief, dictating the tempo from midfield and searching for gaps in a compact defense. The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute when Neves delivered a pinpoint ball to Darwin Núñez, who made no mistake with a sharp finish. Al-Hilal edged possession with 54%, looking every bit the league leaders, but the visitors refused to be intimidated by the early onslaught, maintaining their tactical discipline while waiting for a chance to break the pressure.
Al Wahda’s Defiant Stand
Just as the hosts looked to be cruising, the Balance of the match shifted dramatically. Al Wahda FC grew into the contest, testing the home defense with direct play. In the 32nd minute, B. Diarra silenced the home crowd, finishing off a move sparked by O. M. Khribin to level the scoring. The goal injected a surge of confidence into the visitors, who ended up registering seven shots on target compared to Al-Hilal’s three. It forced Mohammed Al-Rubaie into a string of high-quality saves to keep the scoreline level. The match turned into a tactical chess match, with both managers searching for the adjustment that would break the deadlock as the first half drew to a tense conclusion.
The Sniper’s Final Word
With the Stakes of the title race looming large, the second half became a battle of wills. Al-Hilal’s manager turned to his bench, and the introduction of S. Mandash proved to be a masterstroke. The substitute provided the spark needed to unlock the Al Wahda backline once more. In the 77th minute, Mandash found Núñez in space, and the Uruguayan marksman clinicaly dispatched his second of the night. Despite a late barrage of pressure from the visitors, Al-Hilal held firm to secure a vital three points. This result keeps them four points clear at the top, while Al Wahda will feel hard done by after a performance that deserved more than a narrow defeat on the road.
Key Questions
What made Darwin Núñez the Man of the Match?
Darwin Núñez's brace provided the clinical edge, converting half-chances into match-winning goals during critical phases of the match.
What does this mean for Al-Hilal Saudi FC's season?
This victory keeps Al-Hilal top of the table and extends their unbeaten run, solidifying their status as favorites for the title.
How did substitute Darwin Núñez change the game?
While Núñez started, his relentless movement and 77th-minute winner capitalized on the tired defense to secure all three points for his team.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Al-Hilal’s Fortress Faces Top-Eight Test
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. This is a high-stakes collision where Al-Hilal can secure a direct path to the knockouts, while Al Wahda fight to stay within the elite top-eight bracket.
The Setup
Kingdom Arena has become an impenetrable bastion for the hosts this season. Al-Hilal Saudi FC enters this match with a 100% home win rate, contributing to a Form rating of 7.4. Their offensive output is staggering, averaging 3.0 goals per game, spearheaded by the clinical D. Núñez. However, Al Wahda FC arrives in Riyadh with their own ambitions. Currently sitting 4th, the visitors understand that the Stakes are at a maximum 10.0; a victory here would not only end the leaders' unbeaten run but also blow the race for direct qualification wide open.
Key Battle
The tactical heart of this match lies in the battle between units. Al-Hilal’s high-functioning midfield, orchestrated by Rúben Neves, will attempt to dismantle Al Wahda’s disciplined defensive structure. The visitors have maintained a respectable defensive record, conceding just 0.7 goals per game. The Balance of the match depends on whether Al Wahda’s midfield, featuring F. Kruspzky, can survive the initial press and find outlets to relieve the pressure on their back line, which includes the experienced Pablo Marí.
Our Prediction
Al-Hilal’s collection of world-class Stars provides an edge that is difficult to ignore. While Al Wahda are capable of a defensive masterclass, the individual brilliance of João Cancelo and the overlapping runs of T. Hernández should eventually stretch the visitors beyond their breaking point. We expect a relentless attacking display from the hosts, resulting in a 3-1 victory that cements their position at the summit of the League Phase.