Al Hilal Open Asian Campaign with Victory over Al Gharafa as Neves and Savic Secure Opener

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal began their 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite campaign with an important 2-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Gharafa in a match played on Tuesday evening, September 15, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. The win gave the Blue side their first three points in the league phase, a significant start for a team pursuing a fifth Asian title.

The victory came after a challenging match in which both teams had a player sent off in the first half. Al Hilal then succeeded in asserting their superiority and capitalizing on their chances through Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, while Al Gharafa reduced the deficit in the closing minutes.

Neves Opens the Scoring as Savic Extends the Lead

According to the Asian Football Confederation and Al Hilal’s official website, the hosts took the lead through Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves, who converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time. Al Hilal entered the second half one goal ahead, before Savic extended the score in the 72nd minute to give coach Simone Inzaghi’s team greater room to manage the remaining minutes.

Before the final whistle, Al Gharafa scored in stoppage time, but it was not enough to change the result. The match ended 2-1 in Al Hilal’s favor, allowing the Saudi team to begin their continental campaign with a home victory in front of their supporters.

A Positive Start to a Long Asian Race

The victory carries value beyond the three points, as the league phase of the Asian competition requires teams to collect points early in order to reduce pressure in the later rounds. Al Hilal, who have won four Asian titles, enter the new edition aiming to return to the continental podium.

After the match, Inzaghi said the start had been good, but stressed the need to continue working in a collective spirit. His message reflects the demanding nature of the season, with Al Hilal needing to manage their efforts across the Roshn Saudi League, Asian commitments and the remainder of the domestic competitions.

What Comes Next After Al Hilal’s Victory over Al Gharafa?

According to the club’s official website, the technical staff gave the players one day off before training resumed on Thursday evening. After the international break, Al Hilal will prepare to face Al Ittihad at Kingdom Arena on October 10 in the Roshn Saudi League, before continuing their AFC Champions League Elite campaign.

While it is not possible to judge the course of the tournament based on a single opening match, taking all three points against a Qatari opponent gives Al Hilal a stable start, particularly as the team showed an ability to deal with the match’s circumstances after being reduced to 10 men and maintain their lead until the end.

Sources

Al Hilal Saudi Club official website – Al Hilal vs. Al Gharafa match report, September 15, 2026.
Asian Football Confederation – Round 1 report: Al Hilal 2-1 Al Gharafa, September 16, 2026.