Tribune News Network
Doha
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 on Tuesday – also Qatar’s National Sport Day.
Al Sadd, coached by Xavi Hernanandez, left for Riyadh on Sunday where they face Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in their Group D opener while Al Duhail will meet 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 the eventual champions Al Hilal Saudi FC, are brimming with confidence following their 2020 Qatar Cup triumph.
The Wolves defeated Al Duhail 4-0 in the final following a 4-1 thrashing of Al Rayyan in the semi-final.
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). The Wolves also suffered another injury blow on Monday as Ali Asad suffered a cut in his Achilles tendon during a training session, the club reported.
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.
Addressing the media ahead of the match, Al Sadd player Mohammed Waed Abdulwahab said, "A difficult match awaits us and we will put up our best show.”
Waed stressed that securing a first win in the AFC was important for his team.
"We must fight with a strong spirit to achieve a positive result,” he said.
"This is a different competition that what we faced in the Qatar Cup but our recent wins at home give us a strong motivation to continue with the same approach and work strongly to achieve best results,” he added.
Duhail to bank
on experience
Meanwhile in Doha, Al Duhail’s new coach, Moroccan Walid Regragui, will 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.
Along with Mario Manduzukic, Mehdi Benatia, Han Kwang-Song, Almoez Ali, and co 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 match will be difficult because it is the first in the ACL this season.
"We will face a strong opponent but our players have prepared well, especially after the recent win in the Amir Cup which was a good reaction to losing to Al Rayyan.
"Iranian teams perform well away from home, but for us it will be a huge boost playing in front of our fans,” Al Duhail coach Walid
Regragui said.
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.
Doha
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 on Tuesday – also Qatar’s National Sport Day.
Al Sadd, coached by Xavi Hernanandez, left for Riyadh on Sunday where they face Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in their Group D opener while Al Duhail will meet 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 the eventual champions Al Hilal Saudi FC, are brimming with confidence following their 2020 Qatar Cup triumph.
The Wolves defeated Al Duhail 4-0 in the final following a 4-1 thrashing of Al Rayyan in the semi-final.
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). The Wolves also suffered another injury blow on Monday as Ali Asad suffered a cut in his Achilles tendon during a training session, the club reported.
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.
Addressing the media ahead of the match, Al Sadd player Mohammed Waed Abdulwahab said, "A difficult match awaits us and we will put up our best show.”
Waed stressed that securing a first win in the AFC was important for his team.
"We must fight with a strong spirit to achieve a positive result,” he said.
"This is a different competition that what we faced in the Qatar Cup but our recent wins at home give us a strong motivation to continue with the same approach and work strongly to achieve best results,” he added.
Duhail to bank
on experience
Meanwhile in Doha, Al Duhail’s new coach, Moroccan Walid Regragui, will 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.
Along with Mario Manduzukic, Mehdi Benatia, Han Kwang-Song, Almoez Ali, and co 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 match will be difficult because it is the first in the ACL this season.
"We will face a strong opponent but our players have prepared well, especially after the recent win in the Amir Cup which was a good reaction to losing to Al Rayyan.
"Iranian teams perform well away from home, but for us it will be a huge boost playing in front of our fans,” Al Duhail coach Walid
Regragui said.
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.