Aleksandar Mitrovic delivered a stunning hat-trick on Monday, leading Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to a 3-0 victory over Iran’s Esteghlal in the AFC Champions Elite, maintaining their perfect record in the competition. Neymar, who came on as a second-half substitute, was later replaced after showing signs of a thigh issue, marking a brief second appearance since his return from a serious knee injury.
Mitrovic's Dominance and Neymar’s Brief Appearance
Serbian striker Mitrovic struck twice in the first half, giving Al Hilal a solid 2-0 lead by halftime. Neymar joined the game in the 58th minute, but just before the end, he appeared to pull his hamstring and was substituted at the 86th minute, leaving the pitch holding his right thigh. Al Hilal’s victory secures their lead in the West Asia standings, with four wins from four matches.
Al Ahli’s Commanding Victory Over Al Shorta
Also on Monday, Al Hilal’s Saudi counterparts Al Ahli maintained their perfect record by defeating Iraq’s Al Shorta 5-1. Roberto Firmino opened the scoring early, ending his goalless streak with a well-placed header. Although Al Ahli missed a penalty opportunity, Firmino’s additional goal and Riyad Mahrez’s quick-fire double helped secure the commanding win, taking Al Ahli to 12 points.
Other AFC Champions Elite Results
In other matches, UAE’s Al Wasl and Qatar’s Al Sadd ended in a 1-1 draw in Dubai, as did Iran’s Persepolis and Qatar’s Al Gharafa.
With both Al Hilal and Al Ahli leading the standings, Saudi clubs continue to showcase their dominance in the AFC Champions Elite.
