Al Hilal are aiming for back-to-back wins in the AFC Elite Champions League

Al-Hilal players prepare for their game against Al-Shorta.

RIYADH, September 30: Al Hilal continues its campaign in the 2024-2025 AFC Elite Champions League by hosting Iraq's Al-Shorta in the second round of the newly introduced tournament format today. After beating Qatar's Al-Rayyan 3-1 in the preliminary round, Al Hilal are aiming for their first home win of the season. Both teams are part of the West group, consisting of 12 teams, each playing four home and four away games, with the top eight teams advancing to the round of 16.

In its opening round, Al Hilal impressed with a 3-1 win over Al-Rayyan in Qatar, with outstanding performances, particularly from Portuguese star João Cancelo. The team's most recent training session saw the return of midfielder Rúben Neves, who has recovered from a muscle injury. Neves, a crucial figure in Al Hilal's midfield since his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023, missed recent wins over Al-Bukayriyah and Al-Khulud due to his injury, but is now fit for the game against Al-Shorta.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal defenders Ali Al-Bulaihi and Hassan Tambakti, who both sustained injuries in the game against Al-Khulud, are not expected to miss any significant playing time. Al-Bulaihi was substituted at half-time with a knee problem and Tambakti left in the 74th minute after sustaining a shoulder injury. However, Saudi reports suggest that her injuries are not serious as Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is looking after her fitness for the upcoming matches.