Defending Champions Al Ahli Face Al Gharafa in Crucial ACL Elite West Region Showdown
Defending champions Al Ahli Jeddah will host Al Gharafa at King Abdullah Sports City in a pivotal AFC Champions League Elite West Region group stage match. Al Ahli aim to consolidate their strong group position, while Al Gharafa seek to reverse their recent inconsistent form and secure crucial points for knockout stage qualification. [2, 13, 14, 18]
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) West Region clash at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah holds significant importance for both teams. Al Ahli Jeddah enter the tournament as the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in the 2025 final after defeating Kawasaki Frontale. [2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 19, 28] In the current ACL Elite campaign, Al Ahli are positioned second in their group with 4 points from two matches (one win, one draw), boasting a goal record of 6 scored and 4 conceded. [14] They opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Nasaf Qarshi and followed it with a 2-2 draw against Al Duhail. [14] Conversely, Al Gharafa sit sixth in the group with 3 points from two games (one win, one loss), having scored 5 goals and conceded 4. [13, 14] Their journey began with a 3-4 defeat to Sharjah Cultural Club, but they bounced back with a 2-0 win over Al-Shorta. [14] Under the new ACL Elite format, 24 clubs compete in a single league stage across East and West regions, with the top eight from each region advancing to the Round of 16. [12] Therefore, the outcome of this match will directly impact both teams' standings in the West Region league, making it a crucial encounter for Al Gharafa to improve their position and contend for a knockout spot.
Recent Form
Al Ahli Jeddah have shown some inconsistency in their recent outings across all competitions, with their last five official matches resulting in two wins and three draws. Their most recent fixture was a 1-1 draw against Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on October 17. [13, 14, 23] In the AFC Champions League Elite, their form has been stronger, securing a 4-2 victory and a 2-2 draw. [14] Al Gharafa's recent form has been more turbulent, with one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five official matches. [13, 20] They suffered a significant 0-3 defeat to Al Sailiya in their domestic league on October 17, which might impact their confidence. [13] In the ACL Elite, they have a 3-4 loss and a 2-0 win to their name. [14, 20] Both teams have demonstrated a propensity for attacking play, often leading to high-scoring encounters, particularly for Al Ahli.
Key Players & Injury News
Al Ahli Jeddah boasts a roster of world-class talents. Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie, and Ivan Toney are key offensive threats, whose performances will be crucial to the match's outcome. [1, 8, 14, 27] However, influential midfielder Abdullah Otayf remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear, which could impact the team's midfield coherence. [8, 41] For Al Gharafa, Spanish forward Joselu is a central figure in their attack, having already scored 3 goals in this season's AFC Champions League Elite, making him one of the competition's current top scorers. [9, 21] Algerian winger Yacine Brahimi stands out as a playmaker with 3 assists to his name. [21] Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson was sidelined in late August 2025 with a second-degree strain in his left biceps femoris muscle, with an expected recovery period of two to three weeks [7], suggesting he should be fit enough to feature. However, defender Khalifa Ababacar is suspended for this match due to a red card. [13]