Al Hilal holds Arab hopes at AFC CL

Cairo 14 - September 2017: Saudi Arabian giants eliminated Emirati opponent Al Ain in the Asian Champions League quarter finals after beating them on Monday 3-0 in Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal will play against Iranian current champions, Persepolis.

Al Hilal became the only Arab club to be still competing in the league after Saudi’s Al Ahli lost against Persepolis on Tuesday 3-1, despite the first leg ending in a draw between them 2-2.

Al Hilal won the title twice in 1991 and 2000; however, their opponent, Persepolis, never did.

Al Hilal manager Ramón Díaz depends on his strikers, Nawaf El Abed, Omar Khribin and Carlos Eduardo, to achieve the dream of Al Hilal fans to win the title.

Al Hilal’s experienced players, like Mohammad Al-Shalhoub and Yasser Al-Qahtani, are ready to support the squad whenever Diaz needs them.

On the other hand, the Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds will play against Chinese Shanghai SIPG F.C.

Al Hilal will play the first leg against Persepolis at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on September 26. The Asian Football Confederation decided in 2016 to play the games between Saudi and Iranian clubs at a neutral ground because of the political crisis between the two countries.