Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal kept their flawless AFC Champions League Elite run alive with a 3-0 victory over Iran’s Esteghlal, thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s electric hat-trick ⚡. But the celebration was bittersweet as superstar Neymar exited early due to injury, sparking worries among fans worldwide 🌍.
Mitrovic opened the scoring with a tap-in at 15', doubled the lead with another close-range finish, and capped his trio with a pinpoint header off João Cancelo’s cross 🎯. Meanwhile, Saudi rivals Al Ahli crushed Iraq’s Al Shorta 5-1, with Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez combining for four goals. Talk about a SPL showcase! 💥
Elsewhere, Qatar’s Al Sadd and UAE’s Al Wasl split points in a 1-1 stalemate, while Persepolis and Al Gharafa mirrored the result. With Al Hilal and Al Ahli leading their groups, the race heats up for March’s knockout rounds 🔥. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr face a crucial clash against defending champs Al Ain today—don’t miss it! 👀
PSA for Neymar stans: The Brazilian ace, who just returned from a year-long ACL recovery, limped off after 29 minutes as a sub. Let’s hope it’s just a minor hiccup 🤞.
