Al Nassr suffer record-equalling 4-0 defeat by Al Ain in AFC Champions League Elite

Al Nassr began their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat by Al Ain at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The result, reported by Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya, matches the club’s heaviest loss in the competition since its formation in 2003. It is also the biggest defeat Al Nassr have suffered under both the AFC Champions League and its renamed Elite format.

Al Ain took control in the 25th minute when Hussein Rahimi opened the scoring. The forward struck again after the break, doubling the home side’s advantage in the 63rd minute.

Hussein celebrated both goals alongside his older brother, Soufiane Rahimi, who also started in attack for the Emirati club. Soufiane then added Al Ain’s third goal in the 72nd minute.

Substitute striker Giorgos Giakoumakis completed the rout five minutes from time, scoring in the 85th minute to seal Al Ain’s emphatic victory.

The defeat revived memories of Al Nassr’s previous worst result in the competition, a 4-0 loss to Qatari club Al Duhail when they were known as Lekhwiya during the group stage of the 2016 edition.

The tournament was known as the AFC Champions League before entering the Elite era at the start of the 2024-25 season. As a result, Al Nassr’s loss to Al Ain is their heaviest in the competition under either name.

It was also Al Nassr’s second defeat since Australian manager Ange Postecoglou took charge. Their first came in the Saudi Roshn League, where they lost 2-1 to Al Ittihad.

Al Nassr will have the chance to respond in the second round when they host Uzbekistan’s Neftchi in Riyadh. Al Ain, meanwhile, will travel to Iraq to face Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.