Al-Hilal Faces Key Absences in AFC Champions League Elite Opener
Al-Hilal launch their AFC Champions League Elite campaign under a cloud. The stage is set at Kingdom Arena, the opponent is Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, the expectations are sky-high – and five of the Saudi giants’ biggest names will not be there.
For a club that measures seasons by continental trophies, that is a brutal way to start.
Five pillars missing
The absentees cut right through the spine of the team. According to Saudi newspaper Al-Maidan Al-Riyadi, Al-Hilal will be without Theo Hernandez, Ali Lajami, Hamad Al-Yami, Salem Al-Dawsari and Ollie Watkins for the opening group match.
Each name carries weight. Together, they reshape the entire tactical picture.
Ollie Watkins is the latest and most painful addition to the list. The England forward suffered an injury in recent training, ruling him out of both domestic and continental action for now. The club has yet to determine how long he will be sidelined, leaving a worrying question mark over one of their headline stars.
Salem Al-Dawsari, the captain and emotional heartbeat of the attack, also misses out. His absence strips Al-Hilal of a leader, a goal threat, and a player built for big continental nights.
New signing Theo Hernandez, brought in to add drive and quality on the flank, will not feature either. Nor will defender Ali Lajami or full-back Hamad Al-Yami, two pieces of a defensive unit that suddenly looks thinner than planned.
This is not a minor setback. It is a test of the club’s depth and mentality before a ball is even kicked in Asia’s top club competition.
A statement still to be made
The timing could hardly be more delicate. Al-Hilal wanted a perfect start, the kind that sends a clear warning to the rest of the continent: the four-time Asian champions are coming for another crown.
Instead, they walk into the opener patched up and under scrutiny.
Inside the camp, though, the message is simple: no excuses. The technical staff are determined to turn adversity into fuel, to use this first group game to prove that the squad is built to absorb blows and still dominate.
Al-Gharafa arrive in Riyadh sensing opportunity. The Qatari side know the scale of Al-Hilal’s absences and travel with genuine belief they can spring a surprise in the Saudi capital. For them, this is a chance to shake up the group from day one.
For Al-Hilal, it is something else entirely. It is a measure of their squad depth, their ability to handle pressure, and their readiness to chase the continent’s biggest prize even when the odds bend against them.
If they turn this difficult night into a commanding win, the rest of Asia will take note. If they stumble, the questions about their title credentials will start earlier than anyone in Riyadh planned.
