 |
| ReutersYonhap News |
|
 |
| APYonhap News |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo cannot play in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE), the best stage in Asia. Instead, other monster strikers will be competing for the best position in Asia.
ACLE is Asia's largest competition with a prize money of 10 million dollars (about 14 billion won). Only the top 24 teams in Asia (East Asia 12 and West Asia 12) get tickets to the tournament. In the K-League, Ulsan HD, Gangwon FC, and FC Seoul will play ACLE this season. It is the western part where Saudi Arabian clubs are located that receives global attention rather than the eastern part where the K-League starts. Again this year, Saudi clubs with the best power will participate in ACLE.
Unlike last year when Ronaldo's active Alnasr participated in ACLE, Al Hilal, Al-Etihad, and the previous winning team will participate in ACLE this year. Alnasr will aim for the top spot in ACL2, the second division of the Asian Champions League.
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
Saudi clubs have already had a huge recruitment of players starting with Ronaldo's acquisition in 2022, and they have an unrivaled power not only in the east but also in the west, where the same Middle Eastern teams are located. Despite the absence of Saudi's top star Ronaldo this season, the reputation of the monstrous players in the three clubs remains.
The front line of last year's winning team attracts attention. Ivan Toney, who will fill the vacancy of Roberto Firmino, who led the team to the championship, is the main character. Tony headed to Saudi Arabia, accepting Al Ahli's offer instead of courting European teams ahead of the 2024-2025 season. In his first season, he scored 30 goals in 44 games, clearly excelling in scoring. This season, Firmino's departure for Al-Sad increased the weight of the offense, but he is still playing well with five goals in five games. Along with Tony, the performance of existing resources such as Riyad Mahrez and Frank Kesier, as well as Enzo Miyo, who has newly joined, is also expected.
The other two teams are also neck and neck. RT Hard is 'Ballon d'Or winner'Karim Benzema is responsible for scoring. Benzema, who spent his second season at RT Hard last season, showed a perfectly adapted performance with 25 goals and 9 assists. He recently left due to a hamstring injury, but is reportedly close to returning. In addition, it is the pride of the midfield and second-tier ALTHAD, where Moussa Diaby, Hussem Aouar, and Fabinho are active.
 |
| ReutersYonhap News |
|
Saudi's strongest club, Al-Hilal, added a new face to the front line this summer. It is striker Darwin Núñez from Liverpool. Núñez fell out of contention in Liverpool and headed to the Saudi stage, accepting Al-Hilal's offer. In the second round of the league match against Al-Qaddashya, he even scored his debut goal on the Saudi stage to announce his appearance. In defense, Theo Hernandez, who was a pillar of AC Milan's defense, joined the team. In addition to Núñez and Theo, Alhilal is considered to have comparable power to European Champions League teams such as Malcolm, Marcos Leonardo, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic, Huven Neves, João Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Henang Lodi.
There are monsters on ACLE. Whether the main player who will reach the top of Asia this season will come out once again among these teams depends on the performance of the monstrous players.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
