Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal are gearing up to host South Korea’s Gwangju FC in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday. Both teams are poised for a thrilling encounter as they vie for a spot in the semifinals.
Defending Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal are eager to make their mark in the continental tournament after facing challenges in their domestic league. Currently sitting six points behind leaders Al Ittihad with five games remaining, Al Hilal have won only one of their past four matches, including a tough 3-1 defeat to city rivals Al Nassr.
Coach Jorge Jesus emphasized the team’s determination to claim the AFC Champions League title this season. “It’s a competition that we haven’t won,” Jesus said. “Last year, we won all the titles except the Asian Champions League, so we are very committed. We know it will be tough, but we want to reach our level to get past the semifinals.”
On the other side, Gwangju FC are entering the match with nothing to lose and everything to gain. As tournament debutants, their journey has been impressive. They overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Japan’s Vissel Kobe 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16, showcasing their resilience and fighting spirit.
Head coach Lee Jung-hyo acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains optimistic. “It’s definitely going to be an interesting game,” Lee said. “I asked our players to compete with confidence. We have to challenge this big-name team, especially for our fans who have high expectations. We’ll play our Gwangju style—offensive and aggressive—as usual. I have good expectations for this match.”
Gwangju currently sit third in the K League 1 after ten games, just four points behind the leaders, following a recent win over Seoul. With both teams determined to advance, fans can expect an exciting and competitive match as East meets West in this AFC Champions League showdown.
