DOHA : Qatar’s Al Shamal drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday in their opening AFC Champions League Elite match of the 2026-27 campaign.
Baghdad Bounedjah put Al Shamal ahead in the 63rd minute during the club’s first appearance in the continental competition.
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane’s cross found Bounedjah, who converted to give the Qatari side the lead.
Al Shamal had earlier hit the crossbar twice, with Ben Romdhane and Wesley Saïd both going close.
Al Ittihad continued to push for an equaliser and levelled in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Georginio Wijnaldum finished from a Steven Bergwijn delivery.
The draw gave both teams a point from their opening fixture as Al Shamal began their first AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a result against the Saudi Arabian side.
Al Shamal will now turn their attention to their remaining league-phase fixtures as they seek to advance in their debut continental campaign.
