Al Gharafa vs Al Hilal Player Ratings: Al Dawsari Shines as Al Hilal Seal 3 Points in Close AFC Champions League Clash

Al Hilal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a solid Al Gharafa side in a thrilling AFC Champions League Elite game. The Saudi giants Al Hilal started on a promising note, taking control from the first whistle, with captain Salem Al-Dawsari breaking the deadlock early in the 9th minute.

Despite the early setback, Al Gharafa refused to back down and created several promising chances, with Álvaro Djaló leading most of the attacks. However, it was Al Hilal’s composure and precision that stood tall, as Kaio César doubled their lead for the Saudi Pro League outfit.

Al Gharafa showed great spirit, reducing the gap through Ayoub Al Ouwi, leading to a tense finish, but Al Hilal’s clinical finishing ultimately sealed the win and a crucial three points. Here are Sportsdunia's Al Gharafa vs Al Hilal Player Ratings from the AFC Champions League clash:

Al Gharafa Player Ratings vs Al Hilal

Here are Al Gharafa Player Ratings from Al Gharafa vs Al Hilal game:

Goalkeeper

Khalifa Ababacar - 6.0: A challenging night for the keeper. He couldn't do much about either of the goals, one from close range and the other a superb strike. He made a couple of decent saves and was proactive in claiming high balls. We noticed his distribution was a bit hit-or-miss, with only about half of his long balls finding their man. He conceded two, but it would be harsh to lay the blame at his feet for the loss.

Defenders

Hyun Soo Jang - 7.0: He was probably the most solid member of the backline. We noticed he made a crucial clearance off the line that kept his team in the game for longer. He was calm in possession and read the game well, making several important clearances and an interception. He even got forward and had a headed chance that went just over. A strong, committed performance despite the result.

Mason Holgate - 6.0: A mixed bag from Holgate. He was busy all night, making a good number of tackles and interceptions. From our perspective, he seemed to struggle with the movement of Al Hilal's attackers at times. He stood his ground well for the most part but was part of a defense that ultimately conceded twice. Not a bad performance, but not a commanding one either.

Seydou Sano - 5.0: It was a very difficult evening for the young defender. A costly error leading to a goal is what will be remembered from his performance. That moment seemed to shatter his confidence. He also picked up a yellow card and was dribbled past a couple of times. To his credit he did win most of his tackles, but the major mistake was too significant to ignore in this tight game.

Midfielders

Amro Abdelfatah Surag - 6.0: Worked hard in the midfield for his 71 minutes on the pitch. His passing was tidy and he tried to get the team moving forward. He put in a couple of tackles but didn't have a massive influence on the proceedings before being substituted. A steady, if unspectacular, outing for him.

Ferjani Sassi - 5.5: The captain had a surprisingly quiet game. From our perspective, we expected him to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, but he struggled to impose himself. He lost possession a few too many times and wasn't the creative force his team needed him to be. A disappointing showing from a player of his quality.

Saifeldeen Fadlalla - 6.0: He had a busy hour before being forced off with an injury. He was energetic, making a couple of key interceptions and tackles. He tried to support the attack, but like many of his teammates, the final product was lacking. His work rate was commendable, and his departure was a blow.

Fabricio Díaz - 6.5: A solid midfield display. What stood out to us was his composure on the ball, completing a high percentage of his passes. He drew several fouls, helping to relieve pressure on his team. He battled hard in the middle of the park winning a decent number of duels. A tireless effort.

Forwards

Florinel Coman - 6.5: Looked lively and created three chances for his team before his injury-enforced substitution. He was a willing runner and tried to make things happen in the final third. We noticed he was good at drawing fouls in dangerous areas. His team missed his creative spark after he went off.

Álvaro Djaló - 7.5: The most dangerous player for Al Gharafa by a country mile. He was a whirlwind of activity, constantly taking on defenders and firing shots at goal. He registered an incredible seven shots and provided the assist for the late goal. If his finishing had been a bit more precise, he could have had a couple of goals himself. A thrilling, if frustrating, performance to watch.

Jamal Hamed - 7.0: A really strong performance up front. He was a beast in the duels, winning an impressive 10 of his 16 battles. He held the ball up well, drew fouls, and created a chance for his teammates. He had a few shots himself, showing he was a goal threat. He provided a great physical presence that troubled the Al Hilal defense all game.

Substitutes

Ayoub Al Ouwi - 7.0: Made the biggest impact off the bench, scoring the late goal with a tidy finish. He gave his team a glimmer of hope.

Ahmed Al Ganehi - N/A: Came on but had little time to make a significant impact.

Aron Gunnarsson - N/A: Brought on to add some steel but the game was already stretched.

Rabeh Boussafi - N/A: Provided the assist for a saved shot but didn't have enough time to change the game.

Al Hilal Player Ratings vs Al Gharafa

Here are Al Hilal Player Ratings from Al Hilal vs Al Gharafa match:

Goalkeeper

Bono - 7.0: A relatively quiet night for the veteran keeper until the final stages. He couldn't do anything about the late goal he conceded. He made a crucial save to deny Álvaro Djaló in the second half, a save that proved vital. His distribution was excellent, calm and collected as always. A reliable presence between the sticks.

Defenders

Kalidou Koulibaly - 6.5: A standard, solid performance from the experienced center-back. He was strong in the air and made several important clearances. What stood out to us was his composure, though he was caught out once or twice. He almost missed a big chance but was defensively sound for the most part against a tricky attack.

Yusuf Akçiçek - 7.0: A very impressive performance from the defender. He read the game brilliantly, making three interceptions and a number of clearances. He was also surprisingly effective carrying the ball forward, completing all his dribble attempts. A mature and confident display that belied his experience.

Ali bin Mohammed bin Ali Lajami - 6.5: A very tidy game from the defender until his unfortunate injury late on. His pass accuracy was incredible, hardly misplacing a pass all game. He was strong in his defensive duties, recovering the ball eight times. It was a shame to see him leave the field injured after a solid outing.

Midfielders

Rúben Neves - 7.5: Controlled the tempo of the game from the heart of midfield. His range of passing was on full display, pinging long balls and keeping things ticking over. He was also immense defensively, winning most of his duels and making four tackles. He dominated his area of the pitch before being substituted.

Theo Hernández - 7.0: A typical all-action performance. He provided the assist for the opening goal, though it was a simple pass. He was a constant outlet on the left, though his final ball wasn't always there. He did his defensive work diligently too. A slight error led to a shot but overall a very positive contribution.

João Cancelo - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the full-back turned midfielder. He was a creative menace, providing a beautiful assist and creating another big chance. He was everywhere, contributing in defense with tackles and interceptions, and driving forward with successful dribbles. He looked a class apart before he was taken off for a rest.

Mohamed Kanno - 6.0: A quiet but effective game. He kept possession well with a high pass accuracy and put in a defensive shift. We noticed he was dribbled past a few too many times, which is an area for concern. However, he won all his tackles and helped his team maintain control in the midfield battle.

Forwards

Kaio César - 7.5: Scored a wonderful goal from outside the box that ended up being the winner. He was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch, creating two chances for his teammates. He was a bit wasteful in possession at times, but his goal was a moment of pure quality that lit up the match. A great contribution.

Salem Al-Dawsari - 8.5: Our man of the match. The captain led by example, scoring the crucial opening goal with a poacher's finish. He was the creative hub of the team, creating three chances and constantly probing the defense with his intelligent movement and dribbling. A truly masterful performance that secured the three points for his side.

Abdullah Al-Hamdan - 6.5: He worked tirelessly leading the line, but it was a frustrating night for him. He was caught offside three times which halted some promising attacks. He held the ball up well and was clean in his passing but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. A hard-working but ultimately inefficient performance.

Substitutes

Hamad Al Yami - N/A: Came on to shore up the defense.

Marcos Leonardo - N/A: Picked up a yellow card shortly after coming on.

Abdulelah Al Malki - N/A: Had a shot saved late in the game.

Abdulkarim Darisi - N/A: A late substitute.

Abdullah Radif - N/A: A late substitute.

Manager

S. Inzaghi - 7.5: His team started brightly and got the crucial goals at the right time. His tactics to control the midfield worked perfectly for large parts of the game. His substitutions were logical, resting key players once the 2-0 lead was established. A professional away performance masterminded by the Italian.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Salem Al-Dawsari with 8.5/10 Ratings