Consistent Al Hilal
A perfect record may have eluded them but Al Hilal SFC - for the second consecutive season - completed the League Stage with seven wins and a draw. While they had Al Ahli Saudi FC for company last season, Al Hilal were the only unbeaten team across the two zones in 2025/26.

Al Ahli on fire
Their unbeaten run may have ended but Al Ahli remained consistent in front of the net, matching last season's tally of 21 goals - their highest total in the League/Group Stage of the continental tournament. Eleven different players scored, the highest number for any team in the competition.

Quick on the draw
With their four goals against Al Sadd SC on Matchday Eight, Al Ittihad Club completed the League Stage with 22, their highest such tally in any continental campaign. Only Al Hilal (26 goals in 2024/25) have scored more at this stage in a single season by a Saudi Arabian club.

Resilient Tractor
Tractor’s 2-0 win against Al Gharafa SC on Matchday Eight was their fifth clean sheet of the season, tied for their highest in an AFC Champions League Elite campaign (also five in 2021). The Islamic Republic of Iran side will hope to set a new best in the Round of 16.

Al Duhail's defensive woes
Al Duhail SC had to wait for the final matchday to confirm their Round of 16 spot but had they been defensively stronger, the Qatari side would have sealed qualification much earlier as they 14 points from winning positions, the most by any team in a single edition since such data became available in 2013.

Talent overload
FC Machida Zelvia topped the East Zone standings and it was well deserved as the debutants showcased their immense talent with nine different assist providers, the joint second most by any team behind Al Hilal (11).

New high for Buriram
Buriram United's 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua FC on Matchday Eight was the fourth time they scored multiple goals this season, their outright most in a single campaign. In fact, it was their their fourth clean sheet of the season, having recorded more only once before (five in 2024/25).

Sanfrecce's never-say-die attitude
With Ryo Germain scoring at 90+3 and Kosuke Kinoshita 90+6, Sanfrecce Hiroshima became the first side to come back to draw a game despite trailing by multiple goals after 90 minutes in an AFC Champions League Elite game since the availability of minute by minute data (from 2013 onwards).

Nagato the creator
Victory may have eluded Vissel Kobe but Katsuya Nagato did his best to spark the Japanese side against Johor Darul Ta'zim with his four chances created from set-pieces the joint-most by any player in a single match this term.

Yan denies Ulsan HD
Ulsan HD were shown the door and the former champions will know who to blame - Shanghai Port's Yan Junling with the custodian making 10 saves against them, the joint-most by any goalkeeper this season.