Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, manager of Qatari club Al-Gharafa, expressed his deep regret and sadness following the harsh and historic 7-0 defeat his team suffered against their host, Saudi club Al-Ittihad, in the match that took place on Tuesday evening, as part of the seventh round of the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite Championship.

Acknowledgment of responsibility and apology to the fans

In the post-match press conference, Martinez appeared deeply affected by the result, emphasizing that the events were clear to everyone and needed little explanation. The Portuguese coach stated plainly: "I don't have much to say. Things were perfectly clear on the pitch. Al-Ittihad were the better team, superior in every aspect, and deservedly won.".

The Al-Gharafa coach did not stop at a brief technical analysis, but was keen to offer an official apology, saying: "I apologize to all members of Qatari sports and to the fans of Al-Gharafa Club for this heavy result. We take responsibility and feel sorry for what happened today.".

The two teams' standings in the AFC Champions League

This loss puts Al Gharafa in a precarious position in their qualification hopes for the next round, as their points tally remains at six, dropping them to tenth place in the West Zone standings. The team now needs to reassess their strategy and get back on track in the remaining matches to maintain their chances of securing a place among the top eight teams that will advance to the Round of 16.

In contrast, Al-Ittihad Club continued its strong performances, raising its tally to (12) points with this resounding victory, jumping to fifth place, enhancing its chances of comfortable qualification and competing for the top spot in the group.

The importance of the event and its regional impact

This result is one of the biggest in the history of head-to-head matches between Qatari and Saudi clubs in Asian competitions, reflecting the significant technical differences that emerged in this particular match. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, holds immense importance, featuring the continent's elite clubs, making every point and every goal crucial in the complex qualification scenarios.

This defeat is expected to cast a shadow over Al Gharafa's preparations for upcoming matches both locally and continentally, as the coaching staff will have to work hard to restore the players' morale. Meanwhile, Al Ittihad sent a strong message to all competitors in the continent that it is coming in strong to compete for the Asian title, benefiting from the constellation of international stars in its ranks who made the difference on the evening at the Radiant Jewel.

Russian press reports have revealed a major surprise regarding the behind-the-scenes details of the transfer of Colombian striker John Duran from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nasr club to Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg club, during the winter transfer window, which witnessed significant activity in the sports world.

According to the Russian sports website SBG MAX, the agreement between the two clubs contains unexpected financial details. The website reported that Duran's transfer was a loan deal for $2.75 million. However, the biggest surprise wasn't just the loan fee, but the agreed-upon salary structure.

The Russian source confirmed that Al-Nasr club management agreed to bear the full value of the Colombian player’s salary throughout his loan period to the Russian club, which indicates the capital club’s desire to market the player and give him the opportunity to participate regularly, even if this costs the treasury additional sums, in a move that reflects the complexities of the modern transfer market.

Background of the deal and the general context

This news comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is under global scrutiny, having become a destination for some of the world's top football stars. John Duran had joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa in a massive deal that sparked considerable controversy at the time, with a reported value of around $75 million. The young player was expected to be a key pillar of the team's attack, but tactical changes and the need to adjust the foreign player quota may have prompted the management to make this decision.

Dimensions of the transition and its impact

From both a technical and economic standpoint, the transfer of a player of Dorante's market value to the Russian league is a significant event. For Zenit Saint Petersburg, acquiring the services of a young international striker from the Saudi league (which boasts a wealth of stars) without incurring the burden of his hefty salary is a winning deal by all accounts, bolstering their attacking prowess in domestic competitions.

As for Al-Nassr, this move could be interpreted as part of a restructuring within the club, aiming to utilize the available foreign player slots to strengthen other positions needed to compete for domestic and continental titles. These details also reflect the financial strength of Saudi clubs and their ability to manage player transfers with considerable flexibility, even in loan deals that may seem expensive on the surface, but which ultimately serve the club's long-term strategies.

It is worth noting that this deal confirms the depth of the growing sports relations and the ease of movement of players between the Saudi League and the major European leagues, which enhances the Kingdom’s position as a major and influential player in the global transfer market.

On an exceptional football night witnessed at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ittihad Saudi Club officially secured its qualification to the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, joining its brothers Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, after it rained seven clean goals on its guest Al-Gharafa of Qatar at the conclusion of the seventh round of the West Group.

Details of the Al-Ittihad Goals Festival

Al-Ittihad wasted no time in getting their game on the pitch, with Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri opening the scoring in the third minute, capitalizing on a perfectly placed cross to slot the ball home despite goalkeeper Khalifa Babacar's efforts. Al-Ittihad continued their complete dominance, with Algerian Houssem Aouar adding a second goal in the 20th minute with a left-footed shot. Their relentless attacking efforts nearly doubled the lead, but Hassan Kadash's headers were unlucky not to score.

In the second half, Al-Ittihad's attacking prowess exploded like never before, with their stars taking turns finding the back of the Qatari net. Portuguese midfielder Roger Fernandes scored twice (49th and 62nd minutes), while his compatriot Danilo Pereira added a header in the 51st minute. The undisputed star of the night, however, was Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar, who completed his hat-trick with two more goals in the 58th and 79th minutes, one of which was a brilliant piece of skill that struck the crossbar before nestling in the net.

The two teams' position in the group

With this resounding victory, Al-Ittihad raised their points tally to 12, jumping to fifth place in the West Zone standings and confirming their status among the continent's elite. Meanwhile, Al-Gharafa of Qatar remain on 6 points, dropping to tenth place and complicating their chances of qualifying for the remaining spots.

Saudi dominance and a strongly worded message

This resounding victory confirms Saudi Arabia's absolute dominance in the current edition of the AFC Champions League, with all three Saudi clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad) securing their places in the knockout stages early on. This performance reflects the significant development in the level of Saudi football and the high-quality signings made by the clubs, such as the acquisition of stars like Houssem Aouar, Danilo Pereira, and Youssef En-Nesyri, who made the difference in this match.

With this result, the federation also sent a strong warning message to all competitors in the Asian continent, indicating that the team is determined to go far in the tournament and compete strongly for the continental title, relying on a powerful attacking force and a solid defense led by goalkeeper Rajkovic, who kept a clean sheet and thwarted Al Gharafa’s timid attempts.