Defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC secured their place in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 Round of 16 with a convincing 5-0 victory against Al Shorta in Baghdad on December 22. Goals from Roger Ibanez, Ivan Toney, Galeno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ziyad Al-Johani powered the Saudi side to 13 points from six matches. The result leaves Al Shorta on the brink of elimination despite two games remaining.
In a dominant display, Al Ahli Saudi FC overwhelmed Al Shorta 5-0 on Matchday 6 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26, confirming their advancement to the knockout stages. The match, played in Baghdad, saw Matthias Jaissle's defending champions bounce back from a previous loss to Sharjah FC. Roger Ibanez opened the scoring in the 30th minute, converting a cut-back from Ivan Toney. The former Brentford striker doubled the lead shortly after halftime, racing onto a through pass from Galeno. Galeno then added a third from a tight angle, with Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ziyad Al-Johani completing the rout in the closing stages.
"We did well today and we go home with three points," Ibanez said. "That's the important part."
The win propelled Al Ahli to 13 points, guaranteeing a top-eight finish in the 12-team West Zone standings. For Al Shorta, the defeat means near-certain elimination, as they trail the qualification spots with just two matches left.
Elsewhere on Matchday 6, Iran's Tractor FC also clinched their Round of 16 berth with a 2-1 comeback victory over Al Duhail SC in Tabriz. Benjamin Bourigeaud scored from the penalty spot in the 35th minute for Al Duhail, but Shojae Khalilzadeh equalized before Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh netted the winner two minutes into stoppage time, moving Tractor to 14 points.
Al Hilal SFC maintained their perfect record with a 1-0 win at Sharjah FC, thanks to Malcom's 81st-minute strike, extending their lead to 18 points. In Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa SC kept their hopes alive by defeating Al Wahda FC 1-0 via Seydou Sano's 87th-minute goal, climbing to six points while Al Wahda stayed on 13.
The top eight from each zone's league phase advance to the Round of 16 in March, with later stages hosted in Saudi Arabia in April.
