Al-Hilal Faces Challenges in AFC Champions League Opener

Al-Hilal’s Asian bid starts under a cloud. The lights will be bright at Kingdom Arena, the expectations even brighter, but the squad sheet tells a harsher story on the opening night of the new AFC Champions League Elite.

Five big names are missing. Five pillars ripped out of the structure before a ball is kicked in the group stage.

A bruising absentee list

Saudi daily “Al-Maidan Al-Riyadi” confirmed the scale of the damage. Al-Hilal will face Qatar’s Al-Gharafa without Theo Hernandez, Ali Lajami, Hamad Al-Yami, Salem Al-Dawsari and Ollie Watkins.

Each absence hurts in a different way.

Ollie Watkins, the England star brought in to spearhead the attack, has dropped out after picking up an injury in recent training. It has already ruled him out of domestic action and now the continental opener as well, with no clear timeline yet for his return.

Salem Al-Dawsari’s name on the list deepens the concern. The captain, a symbol of Al-Hilal’s attacking edge and big-game mentality, will watch from the stands rather than drive the team from the pitch.

Behind them, new signing Theo Hernandez is unavailable, robbing the side of a powerful outlet on the flank. Ali Lajami, a key defensive option, and full-back Hamad Al-Yami also miss out, stretching the back line and limiting rotation in a campaign that demands freshness and flexibility.

For a club that dreams of a flawless start to set the tone for another tilt at Asia’s biggest prize, this is a jolt.

Depth under the spotlight

The circumstances are far from ideal, but Al-Hilal do not intend to hide behind them.

Inside the dressing room, the technical staff are treating the Al-Gharafa clash as an early examination of character. The message is simple: win anyway. Three points in Riyadh would not just calm the nerves; they would send a warning shot across the continent that the Saudi giants remain serious contenders, even when stripped of some of their brightest stars.

Al-Gharafa arrive with their own ambitions. The Qatari side see opportunity in the chaos and travel to the Kingdom Arena believing they can spring a surprise in the heart of Riyadh.

That belief turns this opener into more than a routine group match. It becomes a test of Al-Hilal’s depth, their ability to absorb pressure, and their capacity to impose their will on a continental stage despite the missing names.

If they navigate this storm and emerge with victory, the rest of Asia will take note. If they stumble, the questions about their campaign will start from day one.