Mumbai, India – In Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai City hosted Al Hilal, Asia’s most successful club, in the AFC Champions League. The stadium was adorned with blue jerseys, banners, and hoardings, creating an electric atmosphere for the biggest football match on Indian soil. Despite a strong first-half defensive performance, Mumbai City ended the night with a loss due to goals from Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Michael in the second half. With a turnout of about 30,000, the match had generated buzz for over a month, and fans were excited to see high-profile players like Neymar, Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Kalidou Koulibaly. Initially planned at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, Mumbai City moved the match to DY Patil Stadium due to high fan interest and security reasons. The capacity of the stadium is approximately 42,000. Mumbai City fan Tushar Sinha expressed his excitement, stating that it had always been his dream to watch a Mumbai team play in the AFC Champions League. Although Neymar was unable to travel to India due to injury, fans still showed their support for him by wearing Al Hilal jerseys with his name on them. Despite Neymar’s absence, Al Hilal proved dangerous on the attack, with goals from Michael and Mitrovic securing the victory. Mumbai City’s performance in the first half was commendable, but the team struggled after being reduced to 10 players. Following the loss, Al Hilal retained their top spot in the group, while Mumbai City looks set to be eliminated in the group stage for the second consecutive season. Despite the defeat, Mumbai City coach Des Buckingham expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating that they showcased what Indian football is capable of against the best team in the competition. The popularity of the Saudi Pro League was evident with the presence of hundreds of Al Hilal jerseys among the fans. The league has attracted attention in world football after significant investments and high-profile signings, such as Cristiano Ronaldo joining Al Nassr. However, critics have accused the league of being a diversion from criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), owns major shares in several Saudi Professional League clubs. Mumbai City fans praised the Saudi Pro League for its global popularity and the competitiveness it has gained following the influx of star players. They believe the league is striving to become the premier competition in Asia.
Football: Al Hilal’s superstars welcomed in Mumbai despite 2-0 defeat
