Gamba Osaka Juarai AFC Champions League Two Usai Tekuk Al-Nassr

Klub asal Jepang, Gamba Osaka, berhasil mengamankan gelar juara AFC Champions League Two setelah menundukkan tuan rumah Al-Nassr dengan skor tipis 1-0 di Stadion Alawwal Park, Riyadh, pada Sabtu, 16 Mei 2026.

Kekalahan ini menggagalkan ambisi kapten Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, untuk meraih trofi pertamanya di Arab Saudi, di mana sang bintang dilaporkan menolak menghadiri upacara penyerahan medali setelah pertandingan berakhir.

Gol penentu kemenangan Gamba Osaka dicetak oleh Deniz Hümmet pada menit ke-30 babak pertama, sekaligus mengakhiri rekor sempurna Al-Nassr yang sebelumnya memenangkan sepuluh laga beruntun untuk mencapai final.

Pelatih Gamba Osaka, Jens Wissing, menekankan pentingnya kerja sama tim dan kolektivitas taktik untuk meredam keunggulan materi pemain individu yang dimiliki oleh kubu tuan rumah dalam laga penentu tersebut.

"We can't compete with Al-Nassr on an individual level because they have a lot of quality, but the crucial point is that we play as a team, consistently exploit our strengths on the field and match their physical strength. If we succeed in that, we will have our chances; we definitely have a chance. In the final, I want my team to be energetic and courageous throughout the match. Our style of play is offensive, with vertical football and a solid defense. Each player has clear responsibilities at all times during the game. I think the players are naturally thinking about the ACL2 final, but we need to focus on the game ahead of us. Although we are tired due to the tight schedule, the important thing is how we prepare for Hiroshima. This will be the end of a sequence of 11 games, but I made it clear to the athletes that nothing is over yet." kata Jens Wissing, Pelatih Gamba Osaka.

Di sisi lain, juru taktik Al-Nassr, Jorge Jesus, mengungkapkan bahwa dirinya datang ke klub tersebut atas ajakan langsung dari Cristiano Ronaldo demi membangun tim tangguh yang mampu memenangkan berbagai trofi domestik maupun kontinental.

"I am the person who knows Al-Hilal best, I was the one who built this team. We are well prepared and we know their strengths and weaknesses... I am not afraid of anything. My only concern is whether the Al-Nassr players will be prepared. When I accepted Cristiano's invitation to coach Al-Nassr, the goal was to build a team capable of competing on equal terms with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli. In previous seasons, Al-Nassr finished far from the top, 16 and 14 points behind. We started well and we want to maintain this momentum. I'm here to win trophies. Without his invitation, I wouldn't be here. Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything wherever he's gone, but not yet in Saudi Arabia. I'll see if I can help him this year. We speak the same language, everything will be easy. I couldn't refuse the challenge that Cristiano gave me." ujar Jorge Jesus, Pelatih Al-Nassr.

Setelah kegagalan di kompetisi tingkat kedua Asia ini, Al-Nassr kini harus segera mengalihkan fokus ke sisa kompetisi domestik demi mengamankan gelar juara Saudi Pro League dari kejaran Al-Hilal.