Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd will host Persepolis of Iran in the third round match (West Group) of the AFC Champions League Elite for 2024-2025 season at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday at 7pm.
Al Sadd are participating in the AFC Champions League Elite as champions of the Qatar Stars League 2023-2024 season.
Al Sadd will aim to continue their fine start and achieve a second win in the continental championship. Al Sadd opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates before scoring a 2-0 win against Iranian club Esteghlal in the second round.
Al Sadd have 4 points and are in third place in the group placings, tied with the Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Al Hilal and Al Ahly teams are in first and second place respectively with 6 points from two matches.
Persepolis are in desperate need of a win, with the two-time AFC Champions League runners-up having had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor after an opening match 1-0 defeat to Al Ahli Saudi FC.
The Iranian champions, however, have won four of their seven previous encounters against Al Sadd and will be hopeful of extending their record.
Al Sadd have shown good form scoring a 4-2 win over Al Shahania in the Week 7 match of the Ooredoo Stars League.
Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez while speaking ahead of the match, said, “All matches of the continental championship and tomorrow’s match seem very difficult. We will try to maintain our upward path and achieve the desired result.”
Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, said, “It’s a difficult match and we will do our best in order to appear strong, and our goal is to compete.”
Al Rayyan aim to put
it across Al Ahli
Al Rayyan will meet Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in their third round match of the AFC Champions League Elite at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday at 9pm.
Al Ahli are currently in second place in the group with 6 points, while Al Rayyan are yet to log points having lost their first two matches to Al Hilal and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
Al Rayyan would therefore be looking to score their maiden win of the AFC Champions League Elite on the home turf to provide momentum to their campaign in front of their fans and to propel their chances of qualifying for the Round of 16.
Al Rayyan coach Younes Ali will look to boost the morale of his team, especially after they found the winning touch with a 2-1 win over Al Khor in Week 7 of the Ooredoo Stars League. The coach would be eager of his side scoring their first win in the continental championship, despite the quality of the opposition.
To overcome the challenge, Ali would rely on his players and in particular on: Mahmoud Trezeguet, David Garcia, Abdulaziz Hatem, Ashraf Bencharki, Roger Guedes, and Gabriel Pereira among others to deliver the goods.
Al Rayyan coach Younes Ali, speaking on the eve of the clash, said, “The match is crucial for us and cannot be divided by two. We will do our best to get our first win (in AFC Champions League Elite).”
Al Rayyan player David Garcia, said, “We face a difficult and challenging match but we will do our best to achieve victory and get the three points.”
As for Al Ahli, they would go in the match with a high morale while pursuing Al Hilal at the top of the group standings, having achieved wins in the first two matches.
The best eight clubs from each group (of 12 teams) will qualify for the next round (Round of 16), ahead of the knock-outs, starting from the quarter-finals in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4, 2025.
