Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal handed defending champions Al-Ain a dramatic 5-4 defeat in the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday as Salem Al-Dawsari's hat-trick in an incident-filled clash overshadowed Neymar's return to competitive action.
Neymar returned to action for Al-Hilal's hard-fought win over UAE Pro League side Al-Ain.
The 32-year-old Brazil forward came on for the injured Nasser Al-Dawsari in the 77th minute with his team leading 5-3 thanks to Salem Al-Dawsari's hat-trick and goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Renan Lodi.
He then came close to scoring after a counter-attack late on, before Al-Ain pulled one back in stoppage time with a penalty from Soufiane Rahimi, who also bagged a hat-trick.
Al-Hilal survived a lengthy additional time where their rivals pushed for an equaliser and will remain top of the West Asian standings after three rounds of the league phase.
The reigning Saudi Pro League champions also lead the league standings with 21 points.
"I feel good, it's so hard. I always have a good team. But I'm so happy. I'm back," said an emotional Neymar after the game at the Hazza bin Zayed stadium.
Neymar had not played for a year after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury during Brazil's qualifier against Uruguay. He underwent surgery last November.
Having moved to Saudi Arabia from French champions Paris St Germain for a reported 90 million euros ($97.8 million) transfer fee in August last year, Neymar had only played five games before his layoff as he was struggling with muscle injuries.
Neymar has been sidelined since a cruciate ligament rupture last October, was a 77th minute substitute as the Saudi Pro League side avenged last season's semi-final loss against Al-Ain despite playing the closing stages with 10 men.
The win keeps Al-Hilal on top of the league standings in west Asia after three rounds with nine points, where they are joined by fellow Saudi side Al-Ahli after their 2-1 win over Qatar's Al-Rayyan.
Gabri Veiga scored direct from a corner to give Al-Ahli a 16th minute lead before Feras Al-Brikan headed in his side's second seven minutes from the break, although Fahad Al-Hamad's own goal left his side clinging on for the final 25 minutes.
Al-Hilal's third consecutive win in the competition came as Jorge Jesus' side edged their hosts in a nine-goal thriller at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in which both Al-Dawsari and Al-Ain's Soufiane Rahimi scored hat-tricks.
