Adorned in a sea of blue, with fan jerseys, banners, and hoardings, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai played host to the most significant football match ever held on Indian soil, as Mumbai City welcomed Al Hilal, Asia’s most successful club, in the AFC Champions League.
Before a spirited crowd of approximately 30,000 on Monday, Mumbai City showcased a resilient defensive performance in the first half. However, second-half goals from Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Michael led to a defeat for the Indian Super League (ISL) team.
The impressive turnout for the match did not come as a surprise, given the buzz surrounding it for over a month since Mumbai City was drawn in Group D with Al Hilal, a team boasting a record four AFC Champions League titles.
The anticipation of witnessing high-profile players like Neymar, Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Kalidou Koulibaly on home turf thrilled Indian fans, with thousands rushing to purchase tickets for the match.
Initially planned at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, Mumbai City relocated the match to the DY Patil Stadium due to overwhelming fan interest and security considerations. The DY Patil Stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 42,000.
Mumbai City fan Tushar Sinha expressed his joy, saying, “For me, it has always been a dream to watch a team from Mumbai play in the AFC Champions League. Now I got to see it in Mumbai itself, which made it even more special. Al Hilal are the biggest club in Asia right now, so to play against them is one of the biggest games Mumbai City have had. To see my club play at home in front of so many people was nothing short of madness.”
While fans in Navi Mumbai cheered for Mitrovic, Neves, and Koulibaly, they were unable to witness Neymar in action, as the Brazilian did not travel to India due to his recent ACL and meniscus surgery.
News of Neymar’s injury, which surfaced in mid-October, disappointed several neutral fans, some of whom attempted to resell their match tickets, even at discounted rates.
Mumbai City’s players also lamented missing the opportunity to face Neymar, a player who had secured the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona during the 2014-2015 season
