Al Hilal club received a significant blow ahead of its anticipated match against Al Sadd, after it was confirmed that their star Darwin Núñez will miss the crucial encounter in the 2026 AFC Champions League for the elite.

The absence of the Uruguayan striker is due to a suspension resulting from an accumulation of yellow cards, which prevents him from appearing in a knockout match, adding to the difficulty of the task.

Darwin Núñez is one of the key players in the forward line, thanks to his ability to break through and make a difference, which makes his absence impactful at a critical time.

This absence places the coaching staff in front of a significant challenge to find a suitable replacement, whether through tactical changes or relying on other players to compensate for the lost offensive strength.

The match is expected to take place on April 13 at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, in an anticipated encounter between two teams with a strong history on the Asian stage.

The match will be broadcast on beIN Sports, the exclusive carrier of the tournament in the Middle East and North Africa.

Al Hilal enters the match with great ambitions to continue competing for the continental title, while Al Sadd aims to take advantage of the absences and achieve an upset that would lead them to the next round.