Al Sadd's Paulo Otavio trains with teammates.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd face a crucial test at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium today when they host defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC, with victory vital to reviving their AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
Qatar’s main hope in the premier continental competition at the start of the campaign, Al Sadd have collected just one point from three matches and are still searching for their first victory. Their only point came in last week’s 1-1 draw against Al Qadsiah, when a late equaliser in the 84th minute denied them victory.
The 2011 continental champions cannot afford to let more points slip away as they look to get their campaign back on track. However, they face a formidable opponent in Al Ahli, who are chasing a third consecutive title after winning their opening two matches following a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
Al Sadd coach Razvan Lucescu said victory was essential for his side to remain in contention.
“We are well aware of the importance of this match, and we are working to prepare ourselves in the best possible way. Our entire focus is on achieving victory, as it is the only way that will help us continue our journey in the tournament with full force,” the Romanian coach said at a press conference yesterday.
Lucescu added that his team were improving from match to match and remained determined to regain their competitive edge in the continental campaign.
He also pointed to the demanding fixture schedule, which he said had affected the team’s performances, while admitting that luck had not been on their side in several matches. Nevertheless, he remained confident of keeping Al Sadd’s qualification hopes alive.
“We still have five matches left in the AFC Champions League, and our chance to qualify is still there. We must hold on to it and fight to achieve our goal.”
Al Sadd will return to continental action after boosting their confidence with a 4-1 victory over Al Shamal in the QSL on Friday. The match kicks off at 19:00.
Al Gharafa seek first points against Al Qadsiah
At Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Al Gharafa face another stern examination against Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadsiah as they look to register their first points of the campaign.
Al Gharafa have endured a difficult start, losing all three matches, with last week’s 2-1 defeat against two-time defending champions Al Ahli extending their longest losing streak in the continental competition.
The Cheetahs need a response to keep their campaign alive, but face an unbeaten Al Qadsiah side that have collected five points from their opening three matches. A victory today would take the Saudi side to eight points and strengthen their push for a place in the Round of 16.
Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents, while stressing the need to turn encouraging performances into results.
“We haven’t had much time to prepare for this match against a strong team that has performed at a high level in this edition of the tournament,” Martins said.
The Portuguese coach, however, is hoping to build on the positive atmosphere following his team’s 2-0 QSL victory over Qatar SC on Friday as they pursue their first Asian win.
Martins said Al Gharafa had performed well in their previous three continental matches but failed to secure victories.
“We must avoid the mistakes we made during our previous matches, which contributed to our inability to come away with a victory,” he said.
He also stressed that Al Qadsiah presented a different challenge from the other Saudi opponents they had faced, with each team having its own playing style. The match kicks off at 21:15.
