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.

Al-Ittihad's first football team has written a new chapter in its continental history, achieving a remarkable feat in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League. This came after "Al-Ameed" (The Dean) broke the record for the biggest win in the current edition of the tournament, overwhelmingly defeating their Qatari guests Al-Gharafa with a score of seven goals to nil (7-0), in the match held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Tuesday evening as part of the seventh round of matches.

This resounding victory wasn't just three points for Al-Ittihad; it also propelled them to the top of the all-time scoring charts in the tournament, surpassing the previous record held by their neighbor and traditional rival, Al-Ahli, who had earlier defeated Al-Shorta of Iraq 5-0 in the sixth round. This result also outperformed Al-Hilal's equally impressive 4-0 victory over Al-Shorta in the fifth round, further cementing Al-Ittihad's attacking prowess in this edition of the competition.

On a technical level, Al-Ittihad players displayed a sweeping attacking performance and high-level tactical organization, completely dominating the match from the opening minutes until the final whistle. The team capitalized perfectly on the opportunities presented to them, reflecting the players' excellent technical skill and physical readiness. This translated into this historic result, which also broke Al-Ahli's record for the strongest attack in the group, bringing Al-Ittihad's goal tally to 18.

Saudi dominance and remarkable development in the Asian continent

This resounding victory clearly reflects the improved level of Saudi clubs in continental competitions and their ability to fiercely compete for the Asian title in its new "Elite" format. These results, whether for Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, or Al-Hilal, confirm that Saudi football is experiencing its golden age thanks to significant support and the recruitment of top international stars, making Saudi clubs a force to be reckoned with in Asian football and strong contenders for the trophy.

Historically, Al-Ittihad Club has a great legacy in the AFC Champions League, having previously won the title twice consecutively in the 2004 and 2005 editions. This strong performance in the 2025/26 season sends a strong message to the competitors that the "Dean" of Saudi clubs is determined to restore its continental glory and return to the podiums in a big way.

Record numbers from the historic Etihad Night

Below we present a list of the highest results recorded by Saudi clubs in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League, and the ranking of the strongest attacking lines after the end of the seventh round:

Highest win for Saudi clubs in the current edition:

• Al-Ittihad 7 - 0 Al-Gharafa (Qatar) (Round 7)
• Al-Ahly 5 - 0 Al-Shorta (Round 6)
• Al-Hilal 4 - 0 Al-Shorta (Round 5)

Ranking of the strongest attacking lines in the Asian Elite 2025/26:

• Al-Ittihad: 18 goals
• Al Ahly: 17 goals
• Al-Hilal: 15 goals
• Al-Duhail: 14 goals