Matchday 3 Most Picked Outcomes:  

Nine, yep. You didn’t read that wrong. NINE goals were scored in a battle of continental heavyweights between the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 MVP Sofiane Rahimi’s hat-trick wasn’t enough to rescue the hosts a point late in the match as the damage was done when Salem Al Dawsari completed his own treble with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Although there were some nervy moments for over 85% of users who opted for an Al Hilal win, the 10-men Saudi Pro League reigning champs held on for all three points. 

Most Accurate Pick: Al Ahli Saudi FC to beat Al Rayyan – 86.85% 

If you were one of the 86.85% of Match Predictors who backed Saudi powerhouse Al Ahli Saudi to continue their perfect start in the AFC Champions League Elite campaign, give yourself a big pat on the back.

First-half goals from Gabri Veiga and Feras Al Brikan were enough to guide them to three points against bottom side Al Rayyan despite a second-half own goal from Fahd Al Hamad. Al Ahli join fellow Saudi side Al Hilal as the two teams with nine points at the summit in the West.   

Al Nassr and their star-studded squad were the third-most picked team to win on Matchday 3 by Match Predictor users. Although they left it late, they delivered. Aymeric Laporte’s 81st-minute header was enough to secure all three points against Iranian side Esteghlal as Cristiano Ronaldo and co. clinched back-to-back wins.  

AFC Champions League 2023/24 finalists Yokohama F. Marinos were minutes away from walking out of Jinan Olympic Sports Center with all three points. But, Shandong Taishan defender Zheng Zheng had other plans. The 35-year-old was the fastest to react to his initially saved attempt and converted his follow-up header past the hands of Hiroki Iikura. His heroics rescued a point for the hosts late in stoppage time and denied 78% of you guys the correct prediction. Better luck next time.  

After a 3-0 defeat on the road in Johor on Matchday 2, Shanghai Shenhua bounced back in style by seeing off 10-men Kawasaki Frontale. A fifth-minute red card handed to Frontale star winger Marcinho set the tone as the hosts made it two wins from two at home. The Chinese Super League side found the breakthrough goal just before the hour mark courtesy of Wang Haijian before Andre Luis’ stoppage-time goal killed the tie. It was a memorable result for Shenhua but a forgettable one for over 70% of predictors who backed Frontale. Tough luck.  

Editor’s Matchday 4 Preview & Tips  

The AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 will return for Matchday 4 from November 4 to November 6 and we’ve picked out a pair of key games for Match Predictor players to consider. 

Best Pick: West  

Three games. Three wins. Just one goal conceded. Al Ahli’s imperious start to the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 tournament sees them tied at the top of the West standings. Back at home on November 4 against a winless Al Shorta, Al Ahli will be strong favourites to extend their perfect start.  
 
The Saudi club are one of four teams in the entire AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 League Stage to have conceded just once in the opening three games. On the flip side, Al Shorta are among one of the least clinical sides in front of goal with just one goal scored, back on Matchday 1. 

With the Saudi team back in a familiar environment and their defensive unit intact, we believe Al Ahli will earn their fourth campaign victory against the Iraqi side.  

Best Pick: East 

Although they were handed their first defeat of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 season away at in-form Gwangju FC, Johor Darul Ta’zim host struggling Ulsan HD, who are without a point from their opening three fixtures but emerged K League 1 champions for the third consecutive season on Friday.  

The Southern Tigers also boast an impressive record against the two-time Asian champions, beating them twice by the score of 2-1 in their last two meetings at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium back in the 2022 group stage. To make matters more difficult for the visitors, Ulsan remain the only side in this year’s tournament that has yet to score a goal.  

We believe JDT’s creative attacking play coupled with Ulsan’s offensive struggles, will propel the hosts to victory on Matchday 4.  

Three games into the  AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 campaign and it’s not too late yet to join the fun in our Match Predictor game. Here you can make your picks, cheer on your favourite team and players, compete against your colleagues and, most importantly, win exclusive prizes.  

It’s free to play, so don’t forget to sign up at: (https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/predictor.html)