Koulibaly rescues Al-Hilal and gives Bounou his first clean sheet

Kalidou Koulibaly prevented Al-Hilal from conceding against Al-Sadd on Tuesday, in the second round of the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite. His clearance off the line helped Yassine Bounou keep a clean sheet for the first time with Al-Hilal in the current edition of the competition.

The Senegalese defender intervened in the final quarter of the match, when an equaliser could have brought Al-Sadd back into the contest. The Qatari side were playing at home in front of their supporters. Koulibaly stopped the ball before it crossed the line, denying the hosts a chance to cut the deficit and preserving Al-Hilal’s advantage until the end.

For Bounou, it was a first clean sheet in this edition after he conceded against Al-Gharafa in the opening round, in a match won 2-1. Before the meeting with Al-Sadd, Al-Hilal’s previous clean sheet in the AFC Champions League Elite had come on February 9, 2026, against Shabab Al-Ahli, in the previous edition. That match had ended goalless.

The win over Al-Sadd took Al-Hilal to 6 points and put the club top after two rounds. Al-Sadd, beaten for the second time, remained without a point at the bottom of the table.