Joy and despair
Al Ahli Saudi's defeat of Vissel Kobe means the defending champions will be appearing in the final for the third time, with their first coming in the 2012 edition. Vissel's wait, however, continues as they fell in the semi-finals for the second time, having advanced to the last four stage in their tournament debut in 2020.

1-0 to Machida
Machida's defeat of Shabab Al Ahli was their third straight 1-0 win in the competition, making them just the fourth side in AFC Champions League Elite history to register three straight victories by that score. In fact, it was their fourth consecutive clean sheet and seventh overall this season - the most by any team.

Galeno joins exclusive club
Galeno became just the fifth player to score in back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite games for Al Ahli since 2013, with only Riyad Mahrez (three matches between March and April 2025) having gone on a longer run.

Muto delivers
Yoshinori Muto's strike in the losing effort against Al Ahli Saudi was his third consecutive goal contribution for Vissel Kobe in the AFC Champions League Elite, the joint-longest active streak alongside Yuya Osako for the Japanese side.

Rock solid Okamura
Including the 13 on Tuesday, Daihachi Okamura has made 65 clearances for Machida Zelvia on the continental stage this season, behind only Tractor FC's Shoja Khalilzadeh (66). In fact, Okamura has made 10+ clearances three times this season, the joint most by any player.

High and low
Shabab Al Ahli had 70 percent possession on Tuesday, their second highest mark in an AFC Champions League Elite game that they have lost since 2013 (71.6 percent in a 1-0 defeat to Tajikistan's Istiklol in April 2021). Debutants Machida's 30 percent possession, meanwhile, was their lowest in a win this season.

Al Ahli's tough route
Al Ahli Saudi are one match away from becoming just the second team to win back-to-back titles in the AFC Champions League Elite era but they have had to work hard. A late Mahrez free-kick saw them defeating Qatar's Al Duhail SC in the Round of 16 and the Jeddah-based side had to come from behind to see off the challenge of Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim and Vissel Kobe in the quarter and semi-finals. Their fans will be hoping for a more stress-free night on Saturday.

Wrong time for Vissel
Vissel Kobe attempted just five shots against Al Ahli on Monday, their lowest such tally in a single game in the competition.