UEFA has officially revealed its Team of the Week for the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, following a thrilling round of matches characterized by high-scoring action and tactical brilliance from Europe's top clubs. This round saw outstanding performances from several stars who helped their teams secure a place in the Round of 16 ahead of the decisive second legs.

Anthony Gordon... an extraordinary star

English star Anthony Gordon stole the show, establishing himself as the hero of the round after his phenomenal performance with Newcastle United. Gordon led his team to a resounding 6-1 away victory against Azerbaijani side Qarabag at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium. Not only did Gordon contribute to the win, but he also scored four goals (a super hat-trick) on a historic night, confirming his remarkable development and his ability to be decisive in major European competitions.

Real Madrid's balance and defensive solidity

The lineup also featured a royal touch, with Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni securing his place in midfield, representing Real Madrid. This reflects his pivotal role in controlling the tempo of the game and winning back possession, a cornerstone of the Spanish club's strategy to compete for their favorite title. The significance of this selection underscores the value of defensive midfielders in knockout matches, which demand a delicate balance between defense and attack.

The context of the competition and the importance of the European supplement

The play-off matches for the Round of 16 are of paramount importance in the Champions League calendar, representing a crucial hurdle for teams aspiring to reach the final. The diversity of clubs in the ideal XI (from Germany, England, Turkey, Spain, and France) reflects the fierce competition and the close levels of skill, making it extremely difficult to predict the champion, especially with the emergence of promising young talents.

The complete list of the ideal lineup for the playoff round:

UEFA's selections were balanced across all positions, and included the following names:

• Goalkeeper: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund).
• Defense: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
• Midfield: Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge).
• Forwards: Desiree Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Kasper Haig (Bodø/Glimt).

The match between Al-Ahli and Al-Najma, held as part of the 23rd round of the Roshan Professional League at Al-Inma Stadium, witnessed widespread controversy surrounding the referee's decision to overturn a penalty kick awarded to Al-Ahli. Jordanian refereeing expert, Ahmed Abu Khadija, intervened to resolve the dispute and clarify the validity of the decision made by the refereeing team and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

In exclusive statements to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija confirmed that the decision to cancel the penalty kick was absolutely correct. Abu Khadija explained the details of the incident, saying: "What happened was a natural and legitimate challenge for the ball between Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toni and the Al-Najma goalkeeper. The contact did not warrant a foul, and therefore the referee's decision to reverse the penalty decision after reviewing the play was the correct one, in accordance with the laws of the game.".

This incident occurred at a crucial point in the match, with Al-Najma leading 1-0, increasing the pressure on Al-Ahli's players. Ivan Toni, who had joined from the English Premier League in a highly anticipated transfer, was hoping to equalize, but the disallowed penalty kick denied him a golden opportunity to bring the team back into the game, especially as it would have been his first penalty kick for his new club.

In the broader context of the competition, the Roshan Professional League is gaining increasing importance locally, regionally, and internationally, given its attraction of elite international football stars. With the heightened level of competition, refereeing decisions are now under greater scrutiny and analysis than ever before. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology plays a pivotal role in ensuring fair competition, contributing to the correction of influential decisions that could alter the course of matches, as was the case in the Al-Ahli vs. Al-Najma game.

Al-Ahli, as one of the giants of Saudi football, faces immense pressure from fans and the media in every match, with supporters demanding victories and a strong challenge for titles. Matches like these, against teams that may appear less prestigious on paper, serve as a true test of the team's mental and technical readiness to overcome obstacles and cope with unexpected turns of play, including adverse refereeing decisions and falling behind in the score.

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of Al-Ittihad's first football team, received very good news that provided a significant boost to the coaching staff and fans, just days before the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Al-Hilal. The two teams are preparing to face off in the fiery Saudi Arabian football classic as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, in a match to be held at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's home ground.

Moussa Diaby returns to group training

This significant morale and technical boost came with the return of French star Moussa Diaby to actively participate in Al-Ittihad's group training sessions. His return followed his full recovery from a recent injury that had sidelined him for some time, causing concern among Al-Ittihad fans given his technical ability and direct impact on the team's attacking play.

Diaby's importance in Conceição's map

Moussa Diaby is a key pillar of Al-Ittihad's lineup this season, with coach Sergio Conceição relying heavily on him to orchestrate attacks and exploit space thanks to his exceptional speed, dribbling skills, and playmaking abilities. His absence in the last match left a noticeable void on the wing, making his return a significant boost for the team ahead of the crucial Al-Hilal derby.

The context of El Clásico and the importance of the match

This match holds special significance beyond simply being worth three points in the league race; clashes between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal represent the pinnacle of Saudi football and attract attention locally, regionally, and even globally, especially after the remarkable growth of the Saudi Professional League and its attraction of top international stars. The match comes at a crucial juncture in the season (Round 23), as each team strives to improve its position in the standings, intensifying the competition and increasing the psychological pressure on players and coaches.

Kingdom Arena Challenge

The task is made even more difficult by the fact that the match is being played at the Kingdom Arena, giving Al-Hilal the home advantage. Therefore, the return of Diaby to Al-Ittihad's squad provides Conceição with more tactical options to manage the pressure of the match and attempt to snatch points from their opponent's stronghold. The Portuguese coach is expected to decide on Diaby's participation in the starting lineup in the coming hours, based on his full physical readiness, to ensure he can contribute effectively without risking a recurrence of his injury.