The first team to qualify for the final of this season's AFC Champions League has been revealed, with UAE League third-placed Al Ain beating Saudi Arabia Premier League leaders Riyadh Crescent to qualify for the final against the winner between Ulsan HD and Yokohama Marinos. Earlier, Ulsan HD won 1-0 at home to Yokohama Mariners and held the initiative. The new moon is out, which makes Ronaldo's face gloomy: the 4 teams of the Saudi Super League are wiped out in the AFC Champions League, and the French giants enter the top 4 of the Champions League.
In this season's UAE League, Dubai Prayer is ranked No. 1, followed by Dubai Young Nationals in No. 2, followed by Al Ain, who is currently 15 points away from Dubai Prayer with one round less. It is such a team with a low sense of presence that has advanced all the way to the AFC Champions League final.
Al Ain's squad is worth €34.4 million, and in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, they face their opponent Riyadh Victory is worth €140 million. In the two-legged meeting with Riyadh Victory, the two teams drew 4-4 on aggregate and went to a penalty shootout, which Al Ain won 3-1 on penalties. Ain's semi-final opponent, Riyadh Crescent, was worth 240 million euros, and Ain won the first leg 4-2, ending Riyadh Crescent's 34-game winning streak. Although Ain lost 1-2 in the second leg, he still advanced 5-4 on aggregate.
Despite injuries to key players in both Riyadh Victory and Riyadh Crescent against Al Ain, Al Ain's strength on paper is still far inferior to the Riyadh duo. It is a surprise that Al Ain can become the champion of the AFC Champions League West Asia region. With the elimination of Riyadh Crescent, it also marks the absence of Saudi Arabian teams in this season's AFC Champions League, with Riyadh Crescent, Riyadh Victory, Jeddah United and Al-Fayha all missing out on the final.
Saudi Arabian teams have no chance to compete in the AFC Champions League this season, which is also an embarrassment for Ronaldo. Because Ronaldo previously said bluntly at the Dubai Global Football Awards ceremony that the Saudi league is more competitive than Ligue 1 and better than Ligue 1.
Unfortunately, the Saudi Arabian League, which Ronaldo said was stronger than the French league, cannot reach the final in the AFC Champions League, and all four teams have been eliminated. On the other hand, in Ligue 1, there is 1 Ligue 1 team in the semi-finals of this season's Champions League. In addition, in the last four of the Europa League, there is also the French team Marseille. Lille lost to Villa on penalties and missed out on the last four of the UEFA Europa League.
It is clear that Ronaldo's remarks are somewhat arrogant. Because Saudi Arabian teams can't go to the end of the Asian arena, let alone compare with Ligue 1, one of Europe's top five leagues.