Pressure on Saudi s big spenders in Asian Champions League

JEDDAH - Saudi Arabias spending spree in the luxury aisles of the global transfer market will be expected to pay off over the next week-and-a-half as the countrys leading clubs look to turn trophy signings into title winners in the Asian Champions League Elite.

Cristiano Ronaldos Al-Nassr and four-times Asian champions Al-Hilal are joined by Jeddah-based Al-Ahli in the continental quarter-finals, with the Saudi Pro League trio favoured to dominate the battle for silverware.

Huge sums have been spent since Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund bought majority holdings in the nations leading clubs in 2023 and, after falling short in last years competition, expectations are rising once more.

Al-Nassr have added Colombias Jhon Duran to a roll-call that features Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte in addition to Ronaldo as the Riyadh-based outfit seek to win the Asian title for the first time.

Saudi champions Al-Hilal, meanwhile, boast the talents of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves with Al-Ahli able to field a side that includes costly acquisitions such as Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie.

The lavish spending required to lure such top-drawer talent ensures the trio are expected to prevail against opposition from East Asia, with the Saudi sides given the added advantage of playing the centralised finals phase on home soil.

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all be held in Jeddah, forcing their opponents to travel thousands of kilometres with their own domestic campaigns in full flow.

Al-Hilal will kick off proceedings on Friday against South Koreas debutants Gwangju, who rely heavily on the goal-scoring prowess of Albania international Jasir Asani.

Although not as well known internationally as Al-Hilals marquee names, Asani has been in prolific form and is the tournaments top scorer with nine goals, one more than Al-Hilals Salem Al-Dawsari and Yokohama F