VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM AL HILAL V AL SADD IN THE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE MATCH (SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW) SHOWS: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 21, 2025) (AFC – See restrictions) STORY: Al-Hilal sealed a 3-1 win over Qatar's Al-Sadd in Riyadh on Tuesday (October 21) as the Saudi Pro League outfit side their perfect start to the western league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite. First-half goals from Yusuf Akcicek and Kalidou Koulibaly put Simone Inzaghi's side in control before Roberto Firmino pulled one back for the visitors, but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's late free kick sealed the points for Al-Hilal. Akcicek put the four-times winners in front after 25 minutes when he struck from close range after Koulibaly touched the ball into his path following a Theo Hernandez free kick that the Al-Sadd defence struggled to clear. Fifteen minutes later Koulibaly put his own name on the scoresheet when he evaded the Al-Sadd defence to meet Ruben Neves' left-sided corner, the former Chelsea man chesting the ball over the line at the far post. Firmino gave Al-Sadd hope when he emerged unmarked to tap in Pedro Miguel's low cross from the right in the 63rd minute but Milinkovic-Savic curled a delightful free kick past Meshaal Barsham with nine minutes remaining to confirm the win. Al-Hilal lead the western league standings with a maximum nine points from three games, two points clear of defending champions Al-Ahli, also from Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates duo Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Wahda. The top eight finishers in the 12-team standings advance to the knockout rounds, which will be in March with the centralised quarter-finals, semis and final in Saudi Arabia in April. (Production: David Grip)
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