'A huge honour & privilege' - Al Ahli rally to book another ACL Elite final

'A huge honour & privilege' - Al Ahli rally to book another ACL Elite final

For the second year running, Al Ahli will be representing the Roshn Saudi League in the showpiece match in Asian club football.

Matthias Jaissle’s men, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Jeddah counterparts Al Ittihad, booked a berth in a second successive AFC Champions League Elite final with a brilliant comeback against Japan’s Vissel Kobe in Jeddah on Monday.

Having gone a goal down at Alinma Stadium, Al Ahli rallied in the second half to triumph 2-1, through Galeno’s incredible long-range effort - yet another one from the Brazilian - and then a predatory finish from 2025-26 RSL top scorer Ivan Toney.

In front of almost 45,000 people in their hometown, Al Ahli did it again. Now, they will meet either Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia or UAE side Shabab Al Ahli in Saturday’s final.

“We’re really proud again to be in the final; back-to-back is something special and a huge honour and privilege,” manager Jaissle said. “The game was not easy, as always in this stage, in a semi-final in this competition.

“Details decided the game… also we needed some special moments in the game like the goal from Galeno, which was amazing.

“The conclusion was, from my side, that we deserve to be in the final.”