Al Ain Football Club of the Emirates is preparing for the upcoming confrontation that will bring it together with its host Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, within the fourth round of the elite AFC Champions League competitions, as the champion of the Yellow Continent is betting on its Moroccan star Sofiane Rahimi, who shone remarkably last season against Saudi clubs.
Rahimi is expected to lead the Al Ain club attack, amid high hopes from the Emirati team’s supporters that the Moroccan striker will maintain his brilliance against Saudi clubs, given the strong record he has in these continental confrontations.
Rahimi played 7 matches against 3 Saudi clubs, Al-Hilal, Al-Nasr and Al-Fayha, scoring 11 goals, and was behind the assists of 4 goals, including 6 against Al-Hilal, with 3 goals (hat-tricks) in Al-Ain’s 4-2 victory in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals last season. And another hat-trick this season in a 4-5 loss, in the last round of the AFC Elite Champions League.
While the Moroccan striker scored 3 goals in two matches against Al-Nasr, and led Al-Ain to win the AFC Champions League title last season.
Rahimi also scored two goals against Al-Fayhaa last season in the group stage of the Champions League, and he will be the focus of everyone’s attention in the upcoming Al-Nasr match, which will put him face to face with the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is noteworthy that Sufyan Rahimi participated in 12 matches with Al Ain this season in all competitions, scoring 9 goals and making two assists. He has a contract with Al Ain that extends until the summer of 2028.
