It has been officially confirmed that French star Karim Benzema, the striker for Al-Hilal's first football team, will miss the highly anticipated match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai of the UAE. The Saudi club will host their Emirati counterparts on Monday evening in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage, a match eagerly awaited by Asian football fans.

The primary reason for this forced absence stems from the Asian Football Confederation's regulations, specifically those concerning player registration and participation in the current edition of the tournament. The rules clearly stipulate that no player is permitted to represent two different clubs during the same stage of the competition (the group stage). Since Benzema had already participated in group stage matches for Al-Ittihad earlier this season before his transfer, he is legally ineligible to play for Al-Hilal in the remaining two matches of this stage.

Benzema's absence represents a temporary setback for the coach's squad, especially given the impressive performance he displayed in his domestic debut. The veteran striker and former Ballon d'Or winner launched his Al-Hilal career in the best possible way, scoring a historic hat-trick against Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This raised the expectations of Al-Hilal fans, who had hoped to see him lead the attack in the Asian Champions League this round.

In the broader context of the tournament, the AFC Champions League, in its new format, represents the ultimate test for clubs in Asia, witnessing fierce competition among West Asian teams. The match between Al-Hilal and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai holds particular significance, not only for qualification and top spot but also because it is a Gulf derby, always characterized by intense rivalry and high fan turnout. This necessitates that Al-Hilal's coaching staff find suitable attacking alternatives to compensate for the absence of their French star.

Karim Benzema is set to return to bolster Al-Hilal's ranks in the Asian Champions League, starting with the knockout stages (Round of 16), immediately following the conclusion of the group stage, which has only two matches remaining. Saudi and Asian fans eagerly await Benzema's return to continental competition, given his extensive experience in major tournaments and his anticipated impact in tipping the scales in his team's favor during the crucial stages of the tournament, which Al-Hilal is aiming to win.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, describing him as "the best striker in the world," in the pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated clash against Liverpool. Despite this high praise, the Spanish coach declined to give a definitive answer as to whether the Norwegian goalscorer would start in the Premier League match scheduled for Sunday.

The Manchester City-Liverpool clash has gained immense importance in recent years, becoming one of the most intense tactical and technical battles in world football, and its outcome often plays a decisive role in determining the Premier League title race. This match comes at a crucial time for both teams, increasing the pressure on Guardiola to select the optimal lineup to secure three points in the heated title race.

On a technical level, Haaland is experiencing a period of inconsistency, having scored only two goals in his last two matches. Guardiola had kept his lethal striker on the bench during last Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, which City won 3-1. When the manager brought him on in the 71st minute, the Norwegian failed to replicate his usual brilliance and lacked his decisive touch in front of goal, raising questions about his mental and physical readiness for the upcoming match.

Going back to the start of the season, Haaland had a phenomenal start, scoring 19 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals – a feat that reflects the immense value he has brought to the Sky Blues. It's worth noting that Haaland had already found the net against Liverpool in the first leg, a 3-0 victory for City last November. However, when asked by reporters about his next appearance, Guardiola replied: "I don't know until tomorrow, but all I can say is that Erling is the best, Erling is the best striker in the world.".

In another context, Guardiola addressed his future with the club, denying rumors that this season might be his last. The Spanish coach explained, "I have one year left on my contract, which is the same answer I gave two months ago." The former Barcelona manager signed a two-year contract extension in November 2024, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, continuing his trophy-laden career, which has seen him win 18 titles with City, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League title.

The 55-year-old coach didn't miss the opportunity to reiterate his humanitarian stance, again expressing his "pain" for the victims in conflict zones such as Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan. In response to criticism urging him to focus solely on football, Guardiola said: "Honestly, I didn't say anything extraordinary. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to express my feelings just because I'm a coach. I condemn all conflicts around the world," emphasizing his respect for all opinions despite disagreeing with attempts to silence his humanitarian voice.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his complete confidence in Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, describing him as "the best striker in the world," in a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated match against Liverpool. Despite this praise, Guardiola left the door open to all possibilities regarding his starting lineup for Sunday's Premier League clash, refusing to give a definitive answer about whether Haaland would start the match.

Mystery surrounds City's lineup

Guardiola's comments come at a crucial time for City, with Haaland having scored just two goals in his last two appearances – a far cry from his blistering start to the season. The Spanish manager had left his Norwegian striker on the bench for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, which City won 3-1. When Haaland came on as a substitute in the 71st minute, he failed to make his usual impact and couldn't rediscover his clinical finishing touch, raising questions about his mental and physical readiness for big matches.

Relative decline and record numbers

Haaland faces a real challenge to rediscover his best form after a slight dip in form compared to his phenomenal start to the season, when he scored 19 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions and broke records to become the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals. The Liverpool match carries particular significance, as the Norwegian previously scored against the Reds in his team's 3-0 victory in the eleventh round last November. However, Guardiola told reporters, "I don't know until tomorrow, but all I can say is that Erling is the best. Erling is the best striker in the world.".

Guardiola's future and his humanitarian stances

On another note, the press conference addressed Pep Guardiola's future with the Sky Blues, amid growing speculation about whether this season would be his last. Guardiola responded clearly, referring to his current contract: "I have one year left on my contract, the same answer I gave two months ago." It's worth noting that the Catalan coach signed a two-year contract extension in November 2024, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, continuing his illustrious career which boasts 18 titles, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.

The 55-year-old Guardiola didn't miss the opportunity to reiterate his humanitarian stance, again expressing his "pain" for the victims in conflict zones such as Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan. In response to criticism urging him to focus solely on football, Pep said: "Honestly, I didn't say anything extraordinary. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to express my feelings just because I'm a coach. I condemn all conflicts around the world," emphasizing his respect for all opinions despite disagreeing with those who want to silence his humanitarian voice.