Al Ain delivered a comprehensive display of offensive prowess on Tuesday, dismantling Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr with a four-goal victory in the opening match of their campaign for the Asian Champions League Elite. The Emirati club’s dominance was orchestrated primarily by Moroccan siblings Sufyan and Hussein Rahimi, whose clinical finishing left the visitors with little recourse throughout the contest.
Hussein Rahimi initiated the scoring sequence in the 26th minute, breaking the deadlock and setting the tone for Al Ain’s control over the match. He doubled his impact later in the game, netting a second goal in the 63rd minute to extend the lead significantly. His brother, Sufyan Rahimi, added a third goal in the 72nd minute, further cementing the family’s influence on the outcome. The quartet of goals was completed by Giorgos Giakoumakis in the 85th minute, a strike assisted by Sufyan Rahimi, which sealed the decisive margin.
The result stands as a stark contrast to recent history between these two clubs, particularly highlighting Sufyan Rahimi’s consistent ability to perform against top-tier Saudi opposition. During the 2023-2024 season, Sufyan Rahimi emerged as the tournament’s leading scorer with 13 goals, playing a pivotal role in Al Ain securing their second continental title. His individual excellence earned him the award for best player in the competition.
His track record against Al Nassr and Al Hilal remains formidable. In the quarter-finals of the previous edition, he scored in the first leg against Al Nassr, which ended in a 1-1 draw, before contributing to his team’s advancement via penalty shootouts in the return fixture. Against Al Hilal, he recorded a hat-trick in the semi-final first leg, helping Al Ain secure a 4-2 victory that halted the Saudi giants’ 34-match winning streak. Although Al Hilal eventually won their subsequent encounter 5-4 in October 2024, Sufyan had already scored twice in that match, demonstrating his persistent threat regardless of the final scoreline.
For Al Nassr, the defeat served as a challenging start to their Asian Champions League Elite journey. The team, featuring Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, struggled to contain the coordinated attacks led by the Rahimi duo. The loss underscores the high level of competition in the new format and highlights Al Ain’s readiness to challenge for the crown once again.
