Amidst the fierce competition in Saudi Arabian football, particularly within Al-Nassr FC, the club's management has made a pivotal decision regarding the future of the team's coaching staff. Club officials have reached a preliminary agreement to retain veteran Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus for the upcoming season. However, this continuation is not without conditions; it hinges on one non-negotiable requirement: securing the Saudi Professional League title and bringing it back to the club's trophy cabinet.

Sources close to Al-Nassr revealed that Jorge Jesus's future had been the subject of extensive and intense discussion recently, particularly after the painful defeat against arch-rivals Al-Hilal in the first-round derby. This loss temporarily pushed the team away from the top of the league table and sparked concern among fans. However, things turned out in the Portuguese coach's favor, as the team achieved a series of impressive victories in recent rounds, restoring confidence in his tactical acumen and ability to manage big matches, thus opening the door wide for the possibility of his contract being renewed for another season.

In a related context, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the team's captain and legend, plays a pivotal role in this matter. Jesus enjoys strong and unwavering support from the "Madeira Rocket," who believes that technical stability is the key to continued success. Through this support, Ronaldo aims to maintain the team's recent technical achievements and ensure the continuation of their strong attacking performance and the leadership qualities that Al-Nassr has demonstrated in all domestic and continental competitions.

The team is currently experiencing a resurgence in both form and morale, evidenced by their return to the top of the league and their entertaining, collective style of football, which has garnered praise from critics and fans alike. This remarkable improvement has made retaining Jesus a logical choice for the management, provided this effort culminates in winning the title. This period is of paramount importance in the history of the Saudi League, given the tremendous development the competition has witnessed and its attraction of the world's brightest stars, making winning the title an achievement of global, not just local, significance.

From a fascinating historical perspective, if Jorge Jesus succeeds in winning the league title with Al-Nassr, he will etch his name in gold in the annals of Saudi football as one of the few coaches to have managed to tame both Riyadh giants. Having already won the title with Al-Hilal, a victory with Al-Nassr would confirm his coaching genius and his remarkable ability to adapt to the immense pressure exerted by the capital's fans, proving himself a man for the big occasions and a specialist in winning titles with top teams.

Reliable press reports indicate that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is considering postponing the Round of 16 matches of the AFC Champions League (West Zone) due to the current situation in the region. Intensive consultations are underway with the national associations of the participating clubs to determine a suitable and safe date for the upcoming matches, ensuring the safety of all participants and the fairness of the competition.

Modification scenarios and assembly system

Sources indicated that if an agreement cannot be reached on suitable alternative dates for the home-and-away format, the continental federation is considering a backup plan to complete the tournament using a centralized "concentration" system. According to the proposal, this centralized format could begin in April, encompassing the Round of 16 instead of just the quarterfinals as previously planned, to ensure the competition is completed with minimal disruption to already congested domestic league schedules.

This approach is based on the previous experiences of the Asian Football Confederation, which successfully managed its tournaments using a centralized system during previous health and political crises, thus enhancing the chances of success for this option if the need arises.

Original fixture schedule and upcoming matches

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously announced the official schedule for the Round of 16 matches of the 2025-2026 season, with the first leg matches scheduled between March 2 and 4, and the second leg matches between March 9 and 11. This edition features some high-profile matches for Saudi and Gulf clubs

• First leg matches: Al-Duhail of Qatar will kick off the competition against Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on March 2, while Shabab Al-Ahli of the UAE will host Tractor Sazi of Iran in Dubai. In a classic encounter, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia will visit Al-Sadd of Qatar at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, while Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia will face Al-Wahda of the UAE in Abu Dhabi.
• Return leg matches: The excitement returns to Jeddah and Riyadh starting on March 9, as Al-Ahli hosts Al-Duhail, Al-Hilal hosts Al-Sadd at the "Kingdom Arena", while Al-Ittihad meets Al-Wahda at the "Radiant Jewel".

The road to the Jeddah finals

This edition is of exceptional importance, especially with Saudi Arabia hosting the final stages. In this context, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that the draw for the finals will take place at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on March 25. The draw will determine the path of the teams that qualify from the quarter-finals to the grand final match scheduled to be held in Jeddah from April 16 to 25, 2026.

The tournament's new "elite" format regulations stipulate that the final rounds will be held in a central group system with a single-elimination format, taking into account the technical and geographical balance between East and West, and protecting the highest-ranked clubs, such as Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and Japan's Machida Zelvia, from early direct confrontations, which promises fiery competitions befitting the "elite" title in the Asian continent.

All eyes of the football world will be on the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as Arsenal host their London rivals Chelsea in a highly anticipated clash in the 28th round of the English Premier League. This encounter comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, with the Gunners looking to maintain their lead and take another step closer to achieving their long-awaited dream.

Restoring trust and a crucial frank meeting

Arsenal enters the match with high spirits after successfully getting back on track last Sunday with a resounding 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby. This impressive win erased the memory of two disappointing draws that cost the team four valuable points, most notably the unexpected 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Reports and player statements revealed that the turning point was a crucial meeting held by the team's stars to clear the air. In this context, midfielder Declan Rice confirmed that open communication among the players was key to returning to winning ways, noting that everyone spoke frankly about their individual responsibilities.

Ukiris and Izzy shine... and send a message to their rivals

Tottenham's match saw a remarkable performance from the Swedish duo of Victor Jukkasas and Eberechi Eze, who each scored two goals, confirming the readiness of Mikel Arteta's attacking line ahead of their clash with Chelsea. Jukkasas, who has now scored 10 league goals this season, stated: "Sometimes it's important to say what you feel and get everything off your chest in front of the group. It was a good meeting, and now we'll prepare for a big game against Chelsea.".

The title race and Manchester City's pursuit

The match takes on strategic importance beyond just the three points, as reigning champions Manchester City are lurking, waiting for league leaders Arsenal to slip up and close the five-point gap. City face their own test when they travel to Leeds United on Saturday, putting added pressure on Arsenal to respond the following day.

Arsenal fans dream of lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004, during the golden era of French manager Arsène Wenger and the "Invincibles" team. This season represents the best opportunity for Arteta's generation to rewrite history and end their years of drought.

Psychological warfare and physical preparations

Arsenal benefited from not having a midweek fixture for the first time in over two months, giving their players a chance to rest and recover. In the usual psychological warfare, City manager Pep Guardiola commented that he would allow his players to relax and have "cocktails," to which Arteta responded with a confident smile, saying, "I don't drink cocktails. So, no, we'll do what we want," emphasizing his team's complete focus on the pitch and away from media posturing.