Al Ittihad 7-0 Al Gharafa Highlights, AFC Champions League Elite: Aouar's Hat-Trick Tops Off Dominant Win For Hosts

Greetings and welcome, everyone! We are building up to the start of the AFC Champions League Elite, group B game between Al Ittihad and Al Gharafa. Stay with us for live updates.

The match kicks off at 11:45pm IST. The Al Ittihad vs Al Gharafa, AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 group B match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

It will be shown on iQiyi in China and on DAZN Japan in Japan.

It will be Al Ittihad's first-ever professional meeting with Al Gharafa. Al Ittihad has historically performed well against Qatari opposition (like Al Sadd and Al Duhail), often relying on their physical presence and home advantage. Meanwhile, the Qatari side Al Gharafa has a tougher record against Saudi powerhouses, frequently finding it difficult to contain the high-tempo attacking styles of teams like Al Hilal and Al Nassr.

For, Al Ittihad, a win will mathematically guarantee their spot in the Round of 16. Currently sitting in 6th place, three points would move them high enough to be safe from the 9th-place cutoff. Meanwhile, It is a survival match for Al Gharafa. Currently in 9th place, a win would take them into the top 8.

Al Ittihad has won 7 of their last 8 home matches. They average 1.83 goals per game at the King Abdullah Sports City, making them heavy favorites tonight.

Despite losing their last four matches across all competitions, the Qatari side has managed to score in five consecutive games. With Joselu and Yacine Brahimi leading the charge, they remain a massive threat on the counter-attack.

Statistics show that Al Ittihad is most dangerous early on, scoring 27% of their goals between the 16th and 30th minutes. Al Gharafa will need to survive this initial storm to stay in the game.

Al Ittihad Starting XI: Predrag Rajković, Mario Mitaj, Hassan Kadesh, Danilo Pereira, Ahmed Al-Julaydan, Fabinho, Mahamadou Doumbia, Moussa Diaby, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti, Houssem Aouar, Youssef En-Nesyri

Substitutes: Mohammed Al-Mahasna, Stéphane Keller, Abdulelah Al-Shehri, Hamed Al-Ghamdi, Muath Faqihi, Abdulaziz Al-Bishi, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Georges Ilenikhena, Saleh Al-Amri

Al Gharafa Starting XI: Khalifa N’Diaye, Abdalla Yousif (Al-Oui), Seydou Sano, Hyun-Soo Jang, Saifeldeen Fadlalla, Fabricio Díaz, Amro Surag, Ferjani Sassi, Yacine Brahimi, Florinel Coman, Jamal Hamed

Substitutes: Sergio Rico, Hamid Ismaeil, Chalpan Abdulnasir, Mohammed Ali Jamin, Dame Traoré, Mathias Normann, Ahmed Al-Ganehi, Mohamed Muntari, Joselu

What a start for Al Ittihad. Just as the match goes underway, they score and take the lead. Youssef En-Nesyri's left footed shot from the centre of the box finds the net and the hosts are ahead in the game. A shocker for Al Gharafa who will have to look for the equaliser now and chase the game.

The first ten minutes has been absolute domination by Al Ittihad. After scoring the goal, Youssef En-Nesyri went for another attempt as his ight footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right gets saved in the bottom right corner by Khalifa Ababacar. Assisted by Fabinho. Immediately after, Hassan Kadish's header from very close range misses to the right. Al Gharafa are rattled.

The relentless pressure results in another goal and Al Ittihad extend their lead. Al Gharafa has found no breathing space in the first twenty minutes and Al Ittihad pounce on that by doubling their lead. It is Houssem Aouar this time, whose right footed shot from the centre of the box finds the net. Al Gharafa in trouble now.

Another goal and Al Ittihad are toying here with Al Gharafa. It is Roger Fernandes who scores. This time, his left footed shot from very close range finds the net. Al Ittihad are gradually taking the game away from Gharafa here. Oh wait, Referee has disallowed the goal after checking.

Al Ittihad continue to pile pressure on Al Ghaarafa as Yacine Brahimi's right footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation. Earlier, Hassan Kadish's header from very close range missed as well.

Al Ittihad have completely dominated the first half and are leading 2-0 in the game. They could have been 3-0 up but Roger Fernandes' goal was ruled out by VAR due to offside. Al Gharafa have barely been able to put some fight and if they want to stay alive in the game, they would have to play out of their skin in the second half.

The start of the second half looked like could change fortunes for Al Gharafa as they started with rejuvenated energy. But it was only in vain as Roger Fernandes scores to triple the lead of hosts Al Ittihad. His left footed shot from very close range finds the net this occasion. Earlier, his goal got disallowed by VAR for being offiside. He finally gets his name on the scoresheet.

Unstoppable Al Ittihad continue to dominate their way into the game. They score their fourth and effectively take the game out of the hands of Al Gharafa. After Roger Fernandes tripled the lead, Danilo Pereira nailed a header from the centre of the box following a corner and extended the lead further.

Four goals within fifteen minutes of play in the second half and it is a bloodbath at the King Abdullah Sports City. Al Ittihad are completely toying with Al Gharafa who seem to be clueless at this point on how to stop the home side. Houssem Aouar and Roger Fernandes scored in the 58th and 62nd minutes and completed their brace.

Al Ittihad keeps on scoring goals and Al Gharafa are battered and bruised. The seventh goal goes in and it is again Houssen Aouar. Houssem Aouar receives the ball at the left side of the box, drifts inside with a touch and right footed shot from the centre of the box finds the back of the net. Al Gharafa are just dragging their bodies and waiting for the clock to turn down.

That's It. Al Ittihad register a dominant victory by a massive margin of 7-0 and Al Gharafa are completely battered. This win was much-needed for them and have kept them afloat in the round of 16 race. Same cannot be said for Al Gharafa who received an absolute thrashing. Their defenders were all over the place as the like of Roger Fernandes, Houssem Aouar and Youssef En-Nesyri kept finding acres of space inside the box and consistently ended up on the receiving ends of crosses and cutbacks. Al Ittihad will play will Al Sadd on February 17. Al Gharafa will play Tractor on the same day.