Kuala Lumpur: Al Hilal against Urawa Red Diamonds is a showdown between two of the biggest teams in Asia and the 2017 AFC Champions League final is a more than fitting stage for the hotly anticipated clash.
With Urawa’s key men profiled HERE, we highlight three of Al Hilal’s men to watch.
Omar Khribin
Position: Forward
Age: 23
Nationality: Syrian
Ahead of the 2017 AFC Champions League final, Omar Khribin is the tournament’s leading scorer with nine goals.
The Syria striker joined Al Hilal having made his name in the United Arab Emirates playing for Al Dhafra following spells with Iraqi sides Air Force and Al Mina.
Khribin impressed in the AFC Champions League, scoring nine times in the 12 games played in the competition so far, including a hat-trick in the first leg of their semi-final meeting with Persepolis.
Carlos Eduardo
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28
Nationality: Brazilian
After shining in Al Hilal’s run to the 2015 AFC Champions League semi-final, Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo has bounced back from a disappointing 2016 continental campaign to help the Riyadh club to the continental showpiece.
In this year’s competition, Carlos Eduardo has already surpassed his continental best of four goals from the 2015 edition after netting seven times in 12 games.
The unquestionable highlight for the 28-year-old so far was scoring all three of the goals in the 3-0 quarter-final second leg victory against Al Ain that took Al Hilal into the semi-finals.
Salman Al Faraj
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28
Nationality: Saudi Arabian
All-action midfielder Salman Faraj has been among the busiest players on the field in the 2017 AFC Champions League with OPTA statistics ranking him second highest in terms of touches (858) in the tournament so far and second highest in terms of ball recoveries (76).
The Saudi Arabia international was a key part of the Green Falcons’ successful FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign and in this, his ninth AFC Champions League tournament, he has once again been a virtual ever-present for Al Hilal.
Al Faraj, 28, has spent his entire career in the Riyadh-club, starting in the youth team in 2004.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com