Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal extended their imperious run in the AFC Champions League Elite with a gritty 2-1 victory over Al-Wahda on Monday night, preserving the competition’s only unbeaten record and sealing top spot in the western group.
Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez was the hero in Riyadh, striking twice — including a decisive 77th-minute winner — to cap a dominant group-stage campaign under coach Simone Inzaghi.
Al Hilal started with purpose and were rewarded in the 19th minute when Nunez powered home a header from a pinpoint Ruben Neves free kick.
But the visitors responded quickly. Brahima Diarra restored parity for Al-Wahda 13 minutes later, briefly silencing the Riyadh crowd.
With the match finely poised, Nunez struck again late on, sliding in at the far post to secure all three points and underline Al Hilal’s continental credentials.
The four-time Asian champions finished the group phase in commanding fashion:
7 wins
1 draw
0 defeats
Their flawless run makes them the team to beat heading into March’s knockout rounds.
Interestingly, Nunez has reportedly been left out of Al Hilal’s domestic league squad following the high-profile arrival of Karim Benzema, but the former Liverpool forward continues to deliver on the continental stage.
Despite a thrilling 4-3 loss to defending champions Al-Ahli, Shabab Al-Ahli confirmed their place in the last 16.
Al-Ahli had surged ahead through:
Feras Al-Brikan
An own goal by Bogdan Planic
Enzo Millot
Saleh Abu Al-Shamat
A late rally led by Breno Cascardo and Mohammad Juma gave Shabab Al-Ahli hope, but coach Matthias Jaissle saw his side hold on.
Sharjah FC suffered a damaging 2-1 home defeat to Uzbekistan’s Nasaf, with Diyorbek Abdunazarov blasting home a late winner to leave the Emirati side sweating over qualification.
Qatar’s Al-Duhail must now wait nervously after falling 3-2 in Baghdad to already-eliminated Al Shorta, who claimed their first win thanks to a quickfire brace from Bouly Sambou.
The race for the knockout spots concludes Tuesday with key fixtures:
Al-Sadd vs Al-Ittihad
Al-Gharafa vs Tractor FC
The top eight teams advance to the Round of 16 in March, with the quarter-finals onward set for a centralized showdown in Jeddah this April.
Al Hilal are not just winning — they are doing so with ruthless consistency. And with Darwin Nunez rediscovering his scoring touch at the perfect moment, Asia’s elite competition may already have its team to beat.
