UAE’s Al-Ain team is preparing for a high-stakes Arab clash against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in the fourth round of the elite AFC Champions League (2024-2025). The match, which takes place on Tuesday, is highly anticipated, with Al-Ain set to visit Al-Nassr’s home ground.
Despite a rocky start for Al-Ain in the continental tournament this season, having only collected one point from three matches, they hope to secure a positive result in this crucial encounter. On the other hand, Al-Nassr has enjoyed a strong start, garnering seven points in the first three rounds.
Al-Ain’s hopes rest significantly on the performance of Moroccan star Soufiane Rahimi, who has repeatedly proven to be a decisive factor in Al-Ain’s matches against Saudi teams. Rahimi has an impressive record against Saudi clubs in continental competitions, having scored in all his encounters with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Fayha.
In his previous appearances, Rahimi has played seven matches against Saudi clubs, scoring 11 goals and assisting four. Some of his standout performances have been against Al-Hilal, where he scored six goals: a hat-trick in the first leg of last season’s semifinal, which Al-Ain won 4-2, and another hat-trick in this season’s third-round match, where his team lost 4-5.
Rahimi also boasts a strong record against Al-Nassr, scoring three goals in two matches. He led Al-Ain to a 1-0 victory in the first leg of last season’s quarterfinals and scored twice in the second leg, which ended in a 3-4 loss for Al-Ain. Against Al-Fayha, Rahimi scored two goals last season, one in a 4-1 victory and another in a 3-2 win.
Rahimi is currently tied at the top of the elite AFC Champions League scorers from the Western region, sharing the lead with Al-Hilal star Salem Al-Dawsari, with both players having scored four goals. This adds to the anticipation surrounding his upcoming performance against Al-Nassr, highlighting the great hope that Al-Ain and its fans place in their Moroccan star.
