Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Al Hilal launched their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Al Duhail at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday, thanks to second-half strikes from Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez.

The Saudi champions fell behind in the 36th minute when Youssouf Sabaly’s long ball released Adil Boulbina, who rounded Yassine Bounou before finishing coolly to stun the hosts.

Al Hilal thought they had equalized in first-half stoppage time, but Yusuf Akcicek’s long-range effort was overturned by VAR.

Simone Inzaghi’s side regrouped after the break, with Nunez coming off the bench to make an immediate impact.

In the 57th minute, the Uruguayan latched onto Hamad Al Yami’s cutback to level the contest.

With the pressure mounting, Al Hilal found the winner in the 67th minute. A poor clearance by Ibrahima Bamba fell to Hernandez, whose volley deflected off Bamba and sailed past goalkeeper Salah Zakaria.

Earlier, Al Hilal had peppered the visitors’ goal with efforts from Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Nasser Al Dawsari, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, only to be denied by Zakaria’s sharp saves. But the Riyadh club’s persistence ultimately delivered three crucial points in their Group Stage opener.