Al Hilal face Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League final in Riyadh on Tuesday with both teams looking to be the first to lift Asian club football's biggest prize four times.
But South Korea's Steelers will have to overcome fervent home support with an expected 68,000 Al Hilal fans packing out the King Fahd Stadium after Covid crowd restrictions were lifted. Managed by the Portuguese Leonardo Jardim, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia will be looking for their second Champions League crown in three seasons to add to their 1991 and 2000 victories.
Standing in their way are three-time continental champions Pohang Steelers, who reached the final for the first time since 2009 by knocking out the defending champions Ulsan.
Kim Gi-dong's side recovered from a goal down to prevail in a penalty shoot-out in a Korean east coast derby.
Manager Kim is looking for a second Champions League title with Pohang -- he was a player when they claimed a then-unprecedented third Champions League in 2009 to add to back-to-back wins in 1997 and 1998. The magnitude of the occasion is not lost on Pohang defender Alex Grant.
