Saad Al-Suwaidi
2019 Amir Cup title holders Al Duhail will meet their rival and reigning QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd in their Round of 16 first-leg match-up of the 2019 AFC Champions Lague in Doha.
The clash will take place at the recently-opened Al Janoub Stadium located in Al Wakra, and the kickoff is set for 7.00 PM Doha time.
Al Duhail were able to qualify for the knockout stage by finishing as runners-up in group C with 9 points, behind Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal (13 points). whilst Al Sadd qualified by topping their group D standings with 11 points.
Al Duhail, coached by Portuguese Rui Faria, held their pre-season camp in Portugal. The signing of Iraqi striker Mohanad Ali has strengthened Al Duhail, in addition to their key players Bassam Al Rawi, Almeoz Ali, Mehdi Benatia, Asim Madibo among others. also returning to the squad will be star midfielder, Tunisian international Yousef Msakni, who spent a season at Qatar-owned KAS Eupen in Belgium.
On the other hand, Al Sadd will be playing under their former captain and Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez.
The FIFA World Cup winner Xavi arrived in Qatar in mid-2015 following a trophy-laden career with Barcelona, and powered Al Sadd to win many honours, and now he is guiding his former team-mates in his first competitive debut as a head coach, after replacing Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira ahead of the season.
Al Sadd, who recently spent their pre-season camp in Spain, will see South Korean Nam Tae-Hee, a former Al Duhail player for seven seasons, make his debut as a part of the Wolves. The Korean star will join the like of Akram Afif, Baghdad Bounedjah, Hassan Al Haydous, Abdelkarim Hassan, Hamed Ismail, Jung Woo-Young and Pedro.
Tuesday’s match will see a rematch of the Amir cup finals on a continental level.