Al Ahli and Al Nassr Secure Places in Elite Asian Champions League Knockout Stages

Cristiano Ronaldo leads Al Nassr to victory in the AFC Champions League Elite (Instagram/@alnassr).

JAKARTA - Two Saudi Arabian Pro League clubs, Al Ahli and Al Nassr, have secured their places in the last 16 of the 2024/2025 AFC Champions League Elite.

Both are now in the top two of the West Regional standings. A win on Monday, November 25, 2024, evening WIB, means that Al Ahli and Al Nassr's current points will not be able to throw them out of the top eight even though they still have three remaining group phase matches.

As is known, the top eight teams in each group, West and East, will qualify for the knockout phase.

Al Ahli leads the standings with 15 points from five matches, aka perfect. Meanwhile, Al Nassr, strengthened by Cristiano Ronaldo, is in second place with 13 points from four wins and one draw.

In the match that just finished early Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Ronaldo was the actor in Al Nassr's victory.

Ronaldo scored two goals in Al Nassr's victory at Al Gharafa's home with a score of 3-1.

The captain did appear disappointing in the first 45 minutes. However, just a minute into the second half, he immediately opened Al Nassr's lead.

Ronaldo headed the ball to open his team's goal tap. Angelo Gabriel then widened the gap after outwitting goalkeeper Sergio Rico in the 58th minute.

Al Nassr only needed six minutes to score their third goal. Ronaldo entered the scoreboard again in the 64th minute before Al Gharafa scored a consolation goal in the 75th minute through Joselu.

Al Nassr will try to extend their winning record when they face another Qatari team, Al Sadd, on Tuesday next week.

Moving on to Al Ahli, their new striker, Ivan Toney led the team's victory despite coming off the bench.

Toney's brace brought Al Ahli to victory over hosts Al Ain with a score of 2-1 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Toney only came on in the 65th minute to replace Feras Al Brikan. Five minutes after coming onto the field, the former Brentford striker immediately opened the team's lead.

He headed Riyad Mahrez's free kick which goalkeeper Khalid Eisa failed to block. Toney only needed four minutes to bring Al Ahli 2-0 up through another collaboration with Mahrez.

Al Ain could only reply with one goal in the 90+3 minute through Alejandro Romero.

Al Ahli's victory over Al Ain completed their perfect record in the group stage. Meanwhile, Al Ain, who were silenced 1-5 by Al Nassr on the previous matchday, are increasingly slumping to the bottom of the standings, aka 12th place with one point.

As a result, Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), who were the champions of the previous season's Elite Champions League Asia, 2023/2024, are in danger of not qualifying for the knockout phase.

There are still three remaining group stage matches in the West Region of the Elite Champions League Asia 2024/2025.

However, Al Ahli and Al Nassr have ensured that they will qualify for the knockout phase early. Even if they lose their last three matches, their positions will not be out of the top eight.

With the current points, the worst position Al Ahli can get in the final standings is fifth. While Al Nassr's worst finish is sixth in the final standings.