Fans Gather at Fan Zone in Saudi Arabia Ahead of AFC Champions League Match

Fans have gathered at the Fan Zone in Saudi Arabia in anticipation of the upcoming AFC Champions League semi-final second leg match between Al Hilal SFC and Al Ain FC. The match is set to take place on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11:30 PM local time at the Kingdom Arena.

In the first leg of the semi-final, Al Ain stunned Al Hilal with a 4-2 victory. Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League side, will be looking to mount a comeback in front of their home crowd to advance to the final. Meanwhile, Al Ain, the only Emirati club to have won the AFC Champions League, aims to protect their two-goal advantage from the first leg.

The Fan Zone has provided a space for supporters of both teams to come together and demonstrate their passion ahead of this critical match. Fans have been gathering to cheer on their teams as they prepare for the high-stakes showdown.

The match will be officiated by referee Ahmed Al-Alili from the UAE. Al Ain will be without forward Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba due to injury, while Al Hilal has several key players sidelined, including Neymar, Muteb Al Mufarrij, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Why this matters: The AFC Champions League is the premier club football competition in Asia, and the semi-final between Al Hilal and Al Ain has captured the attention of fans across the region. The outcome of this match will determine which team advances to the final and has a chance to be declared champions of Asia.

The current head-to-head record between the two teams shows Al Hilal with 5 wins, Al Ain with 4 wins, and 2 draws. "We know it will be a tough match against a strong Al Ain side," said Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz. "But we have the quality and determination to turn things around in front of our fans and reach the final."

Key Takeaways

• Al Hilal SFC hosts Al Ain FC in AFC Champions League semi-final 2nd leg on April 23, 2024.
• Al Ain won the 1st leg 4-2, looking to protect their lead; Al Hilal aims to mount a comeback.
• The Fan Zone in Saudi Arabia has gathered supporters of both teams ahead of the crucial match.
• Key players like Neymar, Mitrovic are sidelined for Al Hilal; Al Ain misses Laba due to injury.
• The winner of this semi-final will advance to the AFC Champions League final.