Al Ain thrash Al Nassr 4-0 in AFC Champions League opener

Al Ain delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Nassr in their AFC Champions League Elite group stage opener on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi was decided by Al Ain's clinical finishing and a critical defensive error by Al Nassr. Houssine Rahimi scored twice for the home side, while his brother Soufiane Rahimi and substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis also found the net. The result equalled Al Nassr's worst-ever defeat in the competition. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Al Nassr defender Saad Al Nasser misjudged a backpass intended for goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi. The ball rolled directly to Houssine Rahimi, who intercepted it and slotted a right-footed finish through the advancing goalkeeper's legs. Al Nassr struggled to create clear chances despite dominating possession after the restart. Houssine Rahimi doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, finishing from close range after a cross from Alejandro Romero. Soufiane Rahimi added a third nine minutes later with a strike that required a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review before being confirmed.