Shabab Al Ahli to host Esteghlal in matchday 3 of the AFC Champions League Elite

Esteghlal will visit Shabab Al Ahli on 27 October 2026 at 19:00 Saudi time, in the third round of the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite for the 2026/27 season, with the match broadcast on beIN Sports.

Shabab Al Ahli go into the match on the back of a good run of results, having won their last two matches, beating Al Ain 2-0 at home on 17 October 2026, and beating Al Ittihad 2-1 away on 13 October 2026, preceded by a 1-0 win over Tractor and a 1-1 draw with Dubai United, following a 1-3 defeat to Al Jazira.

Esteghlal, meanwhile, come into the match after their last win over Al Gharafa 2-1 away on 12 October 2026, and a 3-0 win over Al Sadd on 14 September 2026, preceded by two consecutive defeats to Al Hussein Irbid by scores of 2-3 and 0-1, and an earlier win over Al Muharraq 3-0.

The two sides have met twice before, with a 1-1 draw at Esteghlal's ground on 25 April 2017, while Shabab Al Ahli won 2-1 at home on 20 February 2017.

In the West Group standings, Esteghlal sit second with 6 points from two wins without a draw or defeat, with a goal difference of 5-1, while Shabab Al Ahli sit fourth also with 6 points from two wins, with a goal difference of 3-1.