Al Nassr Eyes History Against Kawasaki Frontale in AFC Champions League Semifinal

Cristiano Ronaldo aims to inspire Al Nassr to their first continental final since 1995, but standing in their path is Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinals. With expectations high, coach Stefano Pioli asserts that his team is in peak condition and ready to seize the opportunity to end their regional drought.

Al Nassr advanced to the semifinals comfortably, with Jhon Durán scoring twice, alongside efforts from Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo, to defeat Yokohama F. Marinos in the quarterfinals. This victory assures there’s no repeat of last year’s misfortune when they were ousted in the quarterfinals by eventual champions Al Ain.

Wednesday’s clash at King Abdullah Sports City marks Al Nassr’s third semifinal appearance in the ACLE over the past five years. Previously, they were bested by local rival Al Hilal in 2021 and lost on penalties to Iranian powerhouse Persepolis in 2020.

In 2025, equipped with a star-studded lineup valued at around US$200 million and led by global luminary Ronaldo, Al Nassr entered the tournament as a favorite to reach their first final since their 1-0 extra-time defeat to Korea’s Ilhwa Chunma (now Seongnam FC) in 1995.

Their standing is further solidified by the Asian Football Confederation’s decision to host the pioneering centralized ACLE Finals in Saudi Arabia. Adding to their advantage, Kawasaki had a grueling quarterfinal, playing 120 minutes to defeat Al Saad and having one less day to prepare.

In a promising prelude, Al Nassr already tasted victory this week, claiming the inaugural AFC eChampions League Elite title.

Through an interpreter, Pioli, who has been linked to Serie A’s Roma, assured that his squad is fully fit and ready to tackle the “privilege” of high expectations in Wednesday’s match.

“It’s an honor to reach the semifinal,” stated Pioli. “I’m confident in our team and their ability to secure a spot in the final. This match is significant for me.” He also highlighted the rising quality of the team and attributed it to the progress of the Saudi league.

Kawasaki Frontale remains the last hope for the East region in the AFC Champions League Elite after Gwangju FC, Buriram United, and Yokohama F. Marinos bowed out in the quarterfinals.

As Al Hilal and Al Ahli prepare to face off in one semifinal, Kawasaki, from the J1 League, stands as the solitary representative from the East.

Despite being a formidable force in Japanese football throughout the 2010s, capturing four league titles and multiple domestic cups, this year marks their first journey to the final four of Asia’s top club tournament.

Coach Shigetoshi Hasebe has consistently challenged the narrative that the title is destined for Saudi Arabia, yet he warns against shouldering an entire region’s expectations.

“While we represent East Asia, we’re foremost a club from Japan,” Hasebe conveyed through an interpreter. “Our focus is solely on tomorrow’s match and the desire to triumph. That’s our only concern.” He added that Saudi Arabia’s substantial football investments have propelled their clubs to the semifinals, but the outcome remains unpredictable.

Though Kawasaki may lack the marquee names of their opponents, Hasebe emphasized their cohesive team play as crucial to any chance of an upset, urging his players not to be intimidated by their star-studded rivals.

“The key is not to fear those renowned players,” noted midfielder Kento Tachibanada.