Machida Zelvia know how to do it
Five of FC Machida Zelvia’s seven wins this season have come in matches where they held less possession, registering just 36.7 percent against Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad Club on Friday. The Round of 16 tie against Gangwon FC saw the Japanese side managing just 38 percent but their approach has proven effective as they now are just two matches away from winning the title in their debut season.

A first for Al Ahli
Al Ahli Saudi FC have qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals for the second consecutive season, having done so only once in their prior 12 participations in the competition (2012). The defending champions are the fourth club from Saudi Arabia to reach the last four stage in consecutive seasons after Al Ittihad, Al Hilal SFC and Al Nassr Club.

Delight for Japan
With Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia both going through, this is just the second time in AFC Champions League Elite history that two sides from Japan have made it to the semi-finals of the competition, with the previous instance being in 2008 when Gamba Osaka and Urawa Red Diamonds both reached this stage.

New frontier for Shabab Al Ahli
By defeating Buriram United, Shabab Al Ahli made it to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite for just the second time (2015). In doing so, they have become just the second Emirati side after Al Ain (5) to make it to this stage of the competition multiple times.

Galeno on fire
Galeno has contributed to 12 goals in 13 AFC Champions League Elite matches for Al Ahli (6 scored and 6 assists), just one fewer than his total goal contributions across all other competitions in 39 combined games across the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup this season.

High and low for Zulj
Buriram United's Peter Zulj scored at both ends in his side's 3-2 defeat to Shabab Al Ahli, the first player to do so since David Moberg Karlsson for Urawa Red Diamonds against Lion City Sailors in April 2022. The last player to do so in a knockout match was Al Hilal's Bafetimbi Gomis in the first leg of their semi-final in the 2019 edition against Qatar's Al Sadd SC.

Al Ahli eye two-peat
Al Ahli are the only side in the semi-finals to have lifted the coveted trophy before and they will be seeking to emulate Al Ittihad Club by winning back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles, with Vissel Kobe standing in their way in Monday's semi-final.

Al Sadd's amazing scoring streak
Al Sadd SC's campaign may be over but they did leave their mark on the competition as they found the net in all 10 of their matches. In fact, they scored in every single match in the competition in the last two seasons.