Al Hilal looking unstoppable as AFC Champions League uncovers its final four

As the document four-time winners of the AFC Champions League, Al Hilal are all the time anticipated to be thereabouts come the enterprise finish in every version of Asian soccer’s premier membership competitors.

But as the 2023-24 marketing campaign moved previous the quarterfinals this week, they’re looking more and more unstoppable of their quest for a fifth continental crown.

With a 2-0 victory over fellow Saudi Pro League giants Al Ittihad on Tuesday, Al Hilal accomplished a 4-0 mixture win to guide their place within the final four.

It was an unexpectedly convincing margin of victory given Al Ittihad are removed from slouches themselves, boasting a lineup throughout each legs that featured well-known names such as Fabinho and N’Golo Kanté — even when star striker Karim Benzema continues to be lacking in motion.

Not solely did Al Hilal hold alive their hopes of reclaiming the ACL title they final received in 2021, additionally they set a brand new world document of 28 consecutive wins in all competitors with the all-conquering streak stretching all the way in which again to final September.

Impressively, a lot of this run has been achieved with out big-money signing Neymar, who has been sidelined since November with a severe knee damage whereas on worldwide responsibility with Brazil.

In his absence, former Premier League man Aleksandar Mitrovic has led the way in which with 29 objectives from 28 video games within the league and continental competitions, whereas fellow key gamers such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Rúben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have additionally been influential.

Further fuelling expectations that this 12 months’s title will likely be Al Hilal’s to lose is the truth that the workforce that loomed as their largest challengers suffered a shock exit within the quarterfinals.

Despite having the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané to name upon, Al Nassr would fall to Al Ain on penalties following a 4-4 mixture draw — following a woeful displaying from the spot the place the previous could be the one one in all four from his workforce to transform in a 3-1 shootout defeat.

Al Ain, champions of Asia in 2003, will likely be removed from pushovers however there’s a sense that they’ve already exceeded expectations within the present marketing campaign contemplating that is the primary time they’ve made it out of the group stage even since 2018.

It signifies that Al Hilal will likely be favourites come the semis — which can begin on Apr. 16 — and will they march on to the decider, they’re additionally prone to be the superior outfit no matter whichever of the 2 remaining East Asia Zone contenders lie in wait.

Ulsan HD had been the primary from their aspect of the draw to guide their place within the final four, prevailing over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1 on mixture in an all South-Korean affair to maintain alive their hopes of a 3rd ACL title — and first since 2020.

Ulsan will now meet Yokohama F. Marinos after the Japanese representatives noticed off Shandong Taishan 3-1 on mixture, with Anderson Lopes rising as a pivotal determine with a double throughout each legs.

Marinos may also don’t have any scarcity of motivation to go all the way in which provided that, for all their home success as seven-time J1 League champions, they’re but to style continental glory even whereas watching six of their compatriots go all the way in which.

In current instances, the East Asia Zone have dominated the competitors — boasting 9 of the previous 11 champions.

The solely workforce from the West Asia Zone to emerge triumphant in that point? Al Hilal.

And with many anticipating the West Asia Zone to dominate within the years to return, particularly following the current Saudi Pro League increase, it could simply be Al Hilal to get the ball rolling this season — particularly given how they give the impression of being seemingly unstoppable of their march to glory.