The Peninsula
Former champions Al Sadd and Qatar giants Al Duhail will be looking to launch their AFC Champions League (ACL) Group stage on a positive note tomorrow.
Al Sadd, coached by Xavi Hernanandez, yesterday left for Riyadh where they face Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in their Group D opener while Al Duhail welcome Iran’s Persepolis in Group C opener.
Al Sadd’s match kicks off at 6:15pm Doha time at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Al Sadd, who had defeated Al Nassr in the quarter-finals last year before bowing in the semi-finals to eventual champions Al Hilal Saudi FC, are brimming with confidence following an excellent display of quality football which earned them the 2020 Qatar Cup.
The Wolves defeated Al Duhail 4-0 in the final following a 4-1 thrashing of Al Rayyan in the semi-final.
Al Sadd’s latest win came against Al Kharaitiyat in the Amir Cup pre-quarter-finals last Thursday.
Although they are ranked third in the QNB Stars League standings, Al Sadd’s recent wins have shown that the team, one of the best in Asia, is in good form ahead of the important away clash.
In tomorrow’s match, Al Sadd will miss two key players, defender Salem Al Hajri due to an injury and Abdelkarim Hassan (suspension).
Al Sadd recently added attacking midfielder Marco Fabian to their fold. However, the London Olympics gold winning Mexican team-member is ineligible to play in the ACL as he was not on the initial list of players registered with the Asian body.
However, South Korean star and former QFA Player of the Year Nam Tae Hee, internationals Jung Woo-Young, Baghdad Bounedjah, former Atletico Madrid star Gabi Fernandez, Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif and Hassan Al Haydous make a strong line-up at Xavi’s team.
The team will also have the services of Pedro Miguel, Ali Asad, Boualem Khoukhi and star goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail’s new coach, Moroccan Walid Regragui, will also bank on an experienced line-up against the visiting Iranian giants.
The kick-off is at 6:15pm at the Al Duhail Stadium.
Al Duhail are currently leading the QSL standings with 33 points, but their recent loss in the Qatar Cup final against Al Sadd may add to their worries.
The Red Knights also lost their unbeaten status in this season’s QSL when they suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Al Rayyan.
However, Al Duhail will definitely be looking to make a strong statement as both Regragui and Croatian forward Mario Manduzukic look to make their maiden appearance in the continental event.
Along with Manduzukic, foreign signings Mehdi Benatia, Han Kwang-Song, along with Qatari stars Almoez Ali, Ali Afif, Sultan Al Breik, Assim Madibo and Karim Boudiaf will be looking to make the opening game a memorable one for their new coach.
However, they will miss the services of Yousef Msakni, Paulo Edmilson, Ismail Mohammed and Bassam.
The finalists of this year’s ACL are guaranteed a spot in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in China while the winners get to play in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.