Al Ain extend winning streak with fourth straight AFC Champions League victory.
UAE giants Al Ain maintained their impressive form in the AFC Champions League Elite with a convincing 4-1 win over Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Ittihad in Jeddah on Monday.
The victory marked another major statement from Vladimir Ivic’s side, who have now secured four wins from as many matches in this season’s competition.
The result lifted Al Ain to the top of the West Region standings with 12 points, while Al Ittihad remained on four points after registering their third defeat in four games.
Al Ain dominate first half
At King Abdullah Sports City, Al Ain wasted no time asserting their authority.
Alejandro Romero, widely known as Kaku, broke the deadlock in the 17th minute before Rafael Rodrigues extended the visitors’ lead in the 42nd minute.
Al Ain headed into the interval with a comfortable 2-0 advantage, putting the hosts under pressure to respond after the break.
Al Ittihad returned with greater attacking intent, and Marwan Al Sahafi reduced the deficit in the 53rd minute to revive hopes of a comeback.
However, the hosts’ momentum was short-lived. Five minutes later, defender Jan Carlo Simic inadvertently turned Houssine Rahimi’s effort into his own net, restoring Al Ain’s two-goal cushion.
Matias Palacios sealed the result by converting a penalty in the closing stages, completing a comprehensive 4-1 victory for the visitors.
Al Ain strengthen their Asian credentials
Al Ain’s impressive campaign is particularly notable given the calibre of opponents they have faced.
The UAE club opened their campaign with a stunning 4-0 triumph over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr before recording a 4-1 victory against Iraq’s Air Force Club.
Having won the Asian Champions League in 2024, Al Ain have taken maximum points from their first four matches and are once again making their presence felt among the continent’s leading clubs.
For Al Ittihad, meanwhile, the defeat adds to their growing concerns over their continental campaign, with the Saudi side struggling to deliver consistent results.
With four victories from four matches, Al Ain have made a strong start to their Asian campaign and strengthened their position at the top of the West Region table.
