Making his debut as a starter for Al Hilal, Neymar experienced tension and received a yellow card.
The match with Navbahor concluded in a 1-1 tie at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium. This Asian Champions League AFC clash was on ESPN Star+.
Neymar confronted a Navbahor player and even kicked the ball at him during the game. Interestingly, the referee added an uncommon 15 extra minutes.
For goals, Tabatdze from Navbahor and Al Bulayhi from Al Hilal found the net. Michael provided the assist for Al Bulayhi’s goal.
Now, both teams sit with one point in Group D, while Nassaji Mazandaran from Iran leads by beating Mumbai City 2-0.
Neymar’s initial game with Al Hilal was a 6-1 victory over Al Riyadh, where he was involved in four goals.
In the match against Navbahor, Michael and Malcom also played from the start, constrained by league rules on foreign players.
Next, Al Hilal is set to meet Nassaji Mazandaran on October 3, with ESPN Star+ broadcasting the game.
Regarding match insights, Al Hilal dominated with 76% possession but had trouble scoring. Tabatdze struck six minutes into the second half.
Neymar strived but failed to be effective, earning a yellow card for misconduct.
Navbahor’s goalkeeper saved a crucial shot in the extra minutes, but Al Bulayhi leveled the score with a header in the 55th minute.
Reviewing Group D, Nassaji Mazandaran leads with three points. Al Hilal and Navbahor each have one point, and Mumbai City has zero.
Al Hilal’s upcoming games are against Damak, Al Jabalain, and Al Shabab on September 21, 25, and 29, respectively.
Background
Neymar’s uneasy start poses questions about his role and room for growth in the team.
Al Hilal’s significant possession yet failed attempts indicate a need for improved offensive tactics.
The extraordinary 15 minutes of added time suggest the referee saw the match as closely contested, giving both teams an opportunity to change the result.
In summary, Group D appears to be competitive, with Nassaji Mazandaran currently leading the pack.