Asian Football Weekly Update

This week in Asian football (as of April 7, 2025) brought a series of dramatic shifts across multiple leagues. In Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, Al-Ittihad maintained a five‐point lead despite a 2-2 draw with Al-Ahli following a late goal by Karim Benzema, while defending champions Al-Hilal succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting two goals. In Australia’s A-League, Western United closed the gap to leaders Auckland FC by beating Perth Glory 3-1 amid Auckland settling for a 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers. Meanwhile, Japan’s J-League saw Machida Zelvia climb to the top with a draw against Kawasaki Frontale and Kashima Antlers falling to third place after a 4-3 loss to Kyoto Sanga, leaving Sanfrecce Hiroshima tied at the summit on points but trailing on goal difference. The K-League witnessed Daejeon Citizen’s advantage diminish after a 2-0 defeat to Jeonbuk Motors, as Gimcheon Sangmu edged closer with a win over Daegu FC and FC Seoul advanced to third. In China, a stalemate in the Shanghai derby kept Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua level at the top, with Chengdu Rongcheng surging into third place after a 2-0 win over Dalian Yingbo.

In related developments across the region, the Asian Football Confederation has revealed a fresh Champions League format for the 2024/25 season, featuring a two-tier structure with preliminary rounds and league stages, and major prize money at stake. Additionally, national squads in Southeast Asia, including Singapore’s Lions and Malaysia’s selections, are gearing up for upcoming international qualifiers and tournaments, underscoring a busy period both on and off the pitch in Asian football.