Brazilian winger Malcom Oliveira of Al-Hilal expressed full respect for their opponents, Al-Ahli, ahead of the crucial AFC Champions League semi-final match. The game will take place on Tuesday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. His remarks came during a press conference held in the main hall of the stadium.

Malcom said: “I have great respect for Al-Ahli, our opponents in the semi-finals. However, I believe the team that makes fewer mistakes today will reach the final. At Al-Hilal, we can tip the balance in our favor and advance to the final.”

When asked which opponent he would prefer in the final, Malcom replied: “Thinking about the final opponent before even playing the semi-final is not the right approach. First, we must qualify for the final, then we can think about the final match. In football, you don’t get to choose your opponent in the final.”

Malcom concluded: “Today we face a tough match against a strong opponent. In continental competitions, there are no weak or easy teams. All teams that have reached this stage are strong, and difficult games await us.”

The 28-year-old Brazilian has played the most matches for his team this season. Before the semi-final, he had appeared in 39 matches, totaling 3,310 minutes of playtime.

Out of these, 10 matches were in the AFC Champions League. Malcom has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists this season, including three goals and six assists in Asian competitions.