Al Ahli recall Matheus Goncalves as new signing makes first start in AFC Champions League Elite opener

Al Ahli head coach Marino Pusic has restored Matheus Goncalves to the starting line-up for the club’s opening AFC Champions League Elite fixture, while new signing Ibrahima Diaby will make his first start for the Saudi side.

Al Ahli host Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah on Monday in the opening round of the league phase.

Goncalves had been left out of Pusic’s plans since the Dutchman took charge, but the Brazilian has been named in the starting XI for the first time under the coach. His recall follows his public expression of frustration after he was excluded from Al Ahli’s squad for their previous match against Al Hazem in the Saudi Pro League.

The forward changed his profile picture on X to a black image and removed photographs of himself wearing Al Ahli’s colours from his Instagram account.

Goncalves will play alongside fellow Brazilian Wenderson Galeno and Saleh Abu Al-Shamat in support of England striker Ivan Toney. The attacking trio will operate behind Toney as Al Ahli begin their continental campaign.

Diaby, who joined from Belgian club Cercle Brugge during the most recent summer transfer window, has also been handed a starting role for the first time since arriving at the club.

The French midfielder will line up alongside another new arrival, Naif Masoud, who joined from Al Fateh. They will play in front of a defence featuring Saeed Baattia, Turkey international Merih Demiral, Rayan Hamed and Saad Balobaid.

Monday’s match is Al Ahli’s first in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite. The Jeddah club are seeking to retain the title after winning the previous two editions, the first such achievement in their history.

However, they begin their defence without several of the key figures who helped deliver those two successes. Among the notable absentees are Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie and German coach Matthias Jaissle.

Al Ahli’s announced line-up includes Matheus Goncalves, Wenderson Galeno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ivan Toney in attack, with Ibrahima Diaby and Naif Masoud in midfield. Saeed Baattia, Merih Demiral, Rayan Hamed and Saad Balobaid form the named defensive unit.