The AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 West Zone delivered high drama on February 9, 2026, as Shabab Al Ahli hosted Al Hilal at Dubai’s Rashid Stadium in a match that promised fireworks but ultimately ended in a tactical stalemate. The seventh round clash carried weighty implications for both sides: Al Hilal entered with a flawless group stage record and an ironclad unbeaten streak, while Shabab Al Ahli needed points to secure their place in the knockout rounds. For fans across the region, anticipation ran high, with the contest broadcast on beIN Sports and streaming platforms like FanCode, ensuring supporters from the UAE to India didn’t miss a beat.
Heading into the fixture, Al Hilal stood atop the West Zone table with 18 points from six matches, having swept aside all opposition thus far. Their dominance wasn’t confined to the continental stage; in the Saudi Pro League, the Riyadh giants boasted 15 wins and five draws, recently routing Al-Okhdood 6-0 in a match that saw new signing Karim Benzema notch a debut hat-trick. Yet, for this crucial Champions League tie, Benzema was ruled ineligible due to tournament regulations—he had already featured for Al-Ittihad earlier in the campaign, leaving Al Hilal to rely on their deep squad.
Shabab Al Ahli, meanwhile, arrived in buoyant domestic form. They sat atop the UAE Pro League with 38 points and had dispatched Al Sharjah 4-1 just days prior, stretching their winning streak to three matches. However, their continental journey had been less consistent. The Dubai club was fifth in the AFC Champions League Elite West standings with 10 points, trailing Al Hilal, Tractor, Al Ahli, and Al Wahda. With only seven points separating the top and bottom half of the table, every result mattered as the group phase neared its conclusion.
Kickoff came at 20:00 local time, with both teams fielding strong lineups despite notable absences. Shabab Al Ahli’s Sardar Azmoun missed out through injury, but the rest of the squad was available, with Almeqbaali in goal and a backline marshaled by Planic and Renan. In midfield, Henrique and Maksimovic were tasked with disrupting Al Hilal’s rhythm, while Bala and J.M led the line. Al Hilal’s starting XI, managed by Inzaghi, featured Mohammed Al-Rubaie between the posts, a defensive quartet of Nasser Al-Dosari, Yusuf Akchichek, Pablo Mari, and Hamad Al-Yami, and a dynamic front three of Darwin Núñez, Mohamed Kader Meite, and Malcom. Yassine Bounou, the club’s regular goalkeeper, was sidelined with a shoulder injury, with Al-Rubaie stepping in as his replacement.
The match unfolded with Al Hilal asserting early control, dominating possession and probing Shabab Al Ahli’s disciplined defensive lines. Yet, for all their ball retention, the Saudi champions struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities. The absence of Benzema’s clinical finishing was palpable; as the minutes ticked by, Al Hilal’s attacking efforts fizzled out around the penalty area. “This has been a frustrating half for the visitors, who haven’t been able to create enough chances in front of goal despite dominating ball possession,” reported live coverage at the 35-minute mark.
As halftime approached, the scoreboard remained untouched. Al Hilal, despite their star-studded lineup and tactical organization, found themselves stymied by a resolute Shabab Al Ahli. The home side, while ceding territory, looked dangerous on the counter and defended with determination. At the break, the match was still goalless—a testament to Shabab Al Ahli’s defensive discipline and Al Hilal’s lack of sharpness in the final third.
The narrative of the second half mirrored the first. Al Hilal continued to boss possession, but Shabab Al Ahli refused to yield. The visitors attempted five shots, all of which sailed harmlessly wide or were blocked by a packed defense. By the 66th minute, frustration began to show in Al Hilal’s ranks. “The 0-0 score line is enough to describe just how important of a signing Karim Benzema is as Al-Hilal fail to even register a shot on target, smashing 5 attempts outside of the frame,” noted one commentator, underlining the Frenchman’s absence and the team’s reliance on his finishing touch.
Shabab Al Ahli, for their part, played the percentages. With a Round of 16 berth within reach, they prioritized defensive solidity over attacking adventure. Their tactical discipline paid off, as Al Hilal’s attacks continued to founder. The home side’s goalkeeper, Almeqbaali, was rarely troubled, and the back four stood tall under pressure.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left with mixed emotions. For Al Hilal, the 0-0 draw marked the end of their perfect winning streak in the group stage, though their unbeaten run remained intact. “The unbeaten streak stays alive! It’s all over in Dubai, and while Al-Hilal keeps their invincible status, they’ll feel this was two points dropped. Despite monopolizing the ball, the Saudi giants looked surprisingly toothless without Karim Benzema’s clinical finishing,” summarized the live match blog. Shabab Al Ahli, meanwhile, earned a valuable point that kept their qualification hopes alive, though they would need to secure results in the remaining fixtures to guarantee passage to the knockout rounds.
Elsewhere in the group, Al Wahda and Al Ahli played out a goalless draw in Abu Dhabi—a result that suited both sides, who had already booked their spots in the Round of 16. The rest of the table remained tightly packed, with Tractor, Al Ittihad, Al Duhail, and Al Sharjah all jostling for position as the group phase neared its conclusion.
In the aftermath, both coaches reflected on the tactical battle. Shabab Al Ahli’s Paulo Sousa called the clash “a big challenge,” emphasizing his team’s focus on development and qualification. Al Hilal’s Inzaghi, meanwhile, was left to ponder his side’s lack of cutting edge without Benzema, but praised the adaptability of his squad, especially new signing Pablo Mari, who credited the team’s support for his quick integration.
With the Round of 16 looming, the stakes remain high for West Zone clubs. Al Hilal, Al Wahda, Tractor, and Al Ahli have already punched their tickets, but for Shabab Al Ahli, every point counts. Their defensive resilience against the region’s most formidable attack will give them confidence, but the road to the knockouts is far from certain.
As the dust settles on a night of tactical intrigue and high stakes, one thing is clear: the AFC Champions League Elite West Zone remains wide open, with every match carrying the potential to reshape the landscape. The next round promises even more drama as teams battle for continental glory and a place among Asia’s elite.