AFC Champions League Elite: Holders Al Ahli Saudi FC held as Al Shamal draw with Al Ittihad

The 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite began with defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC being held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.

The opening round of matches also saw Neftchi Fargona defeat Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya 1-0, while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai secured a 1-0 victory over Iran’s Tractor.

Al Shamal and Al Ittihad shared the points in a 1-1 draw in an all-Arabian Gulf clash.

Algeria forward Baghdad Bounedjah gave Al Shamal the lead after combining with Tunisia midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane in a move built around a series of exchanges between the two players. It was Al Shamal’s first goal in their debut appearance in the competition.

Al Ittihad avoided defeat when Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scored an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time. The goal also came in his first continental appearance.

The holders, Al Ahli Saudi FC, were also involved in a late exchange of goals against Pakhtakor. The visitors went ahead through Flamarion in the 86th minute before Feras Al-Buraikan levelled for the Saudi side in the third minute of stoppage time.

Elsewhere, Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah marked their first continental appearance with a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates side Al Wasl.

Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui scored for Al Qadsiah, while Leandro Spadacio pulled one back for Al Wasl in the sixth minute of added time.

Al Sadd suffered the biggest defeat of the opening fixtures, losing 3-0 to Esteghlal in Tehran.

The current edition features an expanded field of 32 teams, compared with 24 in each of the previous two seasons.

The teams are divided into eastern and western sections, with the top eight sides in each section’s standings expected to progress to the round of 16 and continue their bid for the Asian title.