Al Ain must seize the moment against wounded giants Al Hilal in Riyadh

“Fear None” declared the banner, unfurled across the largest section of Al Ain fans at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Extended opposite the player tunnel, the tifo welcomed both sets of players as they entered the pitch for what became one of the most memorable nights in the Garden City.

The sentiment, stretched across the East Stand, was admirable, but it seemed a little fanciful, too.

Should Al Ain really not fear Al Hilal? The record four-time Asian Champions League winners, runners-up last year, arrived for the semi-final first leg on a 34-match win streak. Last month, they made global headlines as holders of a new world record.

The run took root all the way back in September. Al Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic et al, couldn’t stop their Riyadh rivals, defeated on two occasions.

Al Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions boasting the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and goal guarantor Abderrazak Hamdallah, had come up short against the current runaway league leaders – four times.

There were Champions League excursions to India, Uzbekistan and Iran, the latter considered one of the most unwelcoming stops in Asian club football. But Hilal cast aside them all.