Mahrez falls short as Guendouz Shines in AFC Champions League opener
The AFC Champions League’s opening day saw an intriguing face-off between two Algerian internationals: Riyad Mahrez of Saudi club Al-Ahli SC and goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz of Iran’s Persepolis FC. The match, held at the Emir Abdullah Fayçal Stadium in Jeddah, provided moments of brilliance from both players but ended with contrasting individual performances.
Al-Ahli got off to a flying start, with Mahrez creating an opportunity just two minutes into the match.
The winger delivered a precise pass to Ivorian forward Franck Kessié, who fired past Guendouz from close range.
The Persepolis goalkeeper had little chance to react as Kessié’s shot rifled into the net, giving Al-Ahli an early 1-0 lead.
However, after this explosive start, Al-Ahli seemed to lose their grip on the game, allowing the Iranian side to grow in confidence and push for an equalizer.
Under the guidance of Carlos Garrido, the former coach of USM Alger in the Algerian league, Persepolis began to control the tempo and created several opportunities to level the score.
Their efforts repeatedly tested Al-Ahli’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, who was called into action multiple times to preserve his side’s slender lead.
Meanwhile, Guendouz displayed a remarkable performance between the posts for Persepolis, producing a series of crucial saves to keep his team within reach.
His standout moment came in the 59th minute when he faced a penalty from his fellow Algerian international, Riyad Mahrez.
Although Mahrez executed the penalty with precision, Guendouz was equal to the task, diving expertly to push the ball away for a corner.
This save highlighted Guendouz’s command and composure, as he managed to deny one of Africa’s top talents in a crucial moment.
On the other hand, Mahrez’s performance gradually waned after his early assist.
Despite his initial impact, the Al-Ahli captain struggled to maintain his influence on the match.
His form dipped noticeably, leading to his substitution in the 75th minute—a rare and telling move by his manager, indicating the winger’s subpar display.
Despite Persepolis’ determined efforts to find an equalizer, Al-Ahli managed to hold on for a 1-0 victory, thanks largely to Mahrez’s early contribution.
However, it was Alexis Guendouz who emerged as the game’s standout performer, earning plaudits for his “XXL” display.
His resilience and shot-stopping prowess provided a glimmer of hope for Persepolis throughout the match, overshadowing Mahrez’s disappointing outing.
