Pioli Optimistic as Al Nassr Aim for Historic ACL Final

Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli declares his team injury-free ahead of ACL semi-final against Kawasaki Frontale.

Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli expressed optimism ahead of the Asian Champions League Elite semi-final against Kawasaki Frontale. Pioli confirmed that his team is injury-free, setting the stage for a strong performance.

Leading the way to history! 📍 pic.twitter.com/Fjfu4PP5if

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 28, 2025

“We are ready for the match, but in training we will decide which group is going to play,” Pioli said. He added, “The team is ready to play the game with great spirit, high performance.” Al Nassr seeks to reach the final for the first time in nearly 30 years, having last achieved this feat in 1995.

Al Nassr are among three Saudi Pro League teams in the semi-finals, marking a historic dominance in the competition. This achievement is attributed to the significant investment by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2023.

The influx of funds enabled top clubs to sign high-profile players, transforming the league's landscape. Al Hilal and Al Ahli also reached the semi-finals and will face each other on Tuesday.

Semi-final prep officially underway 🚀 pic.twitter.com/qZc0dJsVZy

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 29, 2025

Kawasaki Frontale are the sole representatives from their side of the confederation remaining in the competition after defeating Al Sadd. The J-League side face a disadvantage, having one less day to recover compared to Al Nassr.

“We'll be playing in a different stadium, so we can have a new feeling and I can imagine the players will play very well tomorrow night,” said Kawasaki coach Shigetoshi Hasebe. He acknowledged the team's fatigue, stating, “All the players are tired because they played for 120 minutes, which is very difficult for us.”