Overview

• Al-Hilal won 3-2 away at Nasaf Qarshi in Uzbekistan, staying perfect after Marcos Leonardo’s 79th-minute finish.
• The scoring swung repeatedly: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened, Sardorbek Bakhromov leveled, Theo Hernandez restored the lead, Javokhir Sidikov equalized, then Leonardo decided it.
• Coach Simone Inzaghi praised the fast tempo and noted missed chances, and Kalidou Koulibaly described a hard-fought win on a difficult pitch.
• Defending champion Al-Ahli drew 2-2 at Al-Duhail in Doha after goals from Edmilson Junior, Matheus Goncalves, Riyad Mahrez and Krzysztof Piatek.
• Elsewhere, Al-Gharafa beat Al-Shorta 2-0 and Tractor drew 0-0 with Al-Wahda, and the top eight advance to March knockouts to be staged centrally in Saudi Arabia in late April.