RIYADH — Aleksandar Mitrovic starred with a hat-trick as Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal moved closer to the knockout stage after a 3-0 win over Esteghlal FC of Iran in their AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 tie on Monday. This victory keeps Al Hilal at the top of the table in the West zone with 12 points, while Esteghlal suffered their third defeat, remaining on three points as the league phase reached its halfway mark. The match almost had a great start for the visitors when Ramin Rezaein’s diving header in the fourth minute bounced off the post. Unfortunately for the defender, he landed heavily and had to be replaced by Alireza Kooshki. Al Hilal soon mobilized into action, with Mitrovic volleying over from close range before pouncing at the back post in the 15th minute to turn in Nasser Al Dawsari’s in-swinging cross for his second goal of the season. Esteghlal custodian Seyed Hosseini had to be at his best to deny Salem Al Dawsari and Abdullah Al Hamddan, but he could do nothing in the 33rd minute when Renan Lodi made a surging run on the left and squared the ball for Mitrovic to tap in. Looking to narrow the gap before the break, Esteghlal almost found a goal in the fourth minute of added time when Uzbekistan international Jaloliddin Masharipov produced a swerving long-range effort that was tipped over by Yassine Bounou. Al Hilal remained in control after the break, but apart from a header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic that was caught by Hosseini, the four-time Asian champions did not keep the Esteghlal defense as busy as they had in the first half. Al Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus then sent on Neymar as the Brazilian continued his reintegration after a long absence due to injury, replacing Al Hamddan just before the hour mark. However, it was Mitrovic who stole the headlines when the Serbian headed home Joao Cancelo’s cross from the right in the 74th minute to complete his hat-trick. Next up for Al Hilal is a trip to Qatar’s Al Sadd SC on November 26, where a win could potentially seal their progression, while Esteghlal will face Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan a day earlier.