Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd will look to revive their AFC Champions League Elite campaign when they host Saudi giants Al Hilal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium today.
The Qatar champions suffered a 3-0 defeat to Iran’s Esteghlal FC in their opening match, while Al Hilal began with a victory over Qatar’s Al Gharafa SC, putting the hosts under pressure to respond. Kick-off is at 7:00pm.
Al Sadd’s challenge comes after Friday’s shock 3-2 Qatar Stars League defeat to Al Arabi, which ended their winning start to the domestic season after four consecutive victories.
Coach Razvan Lucescu acknowledged the difficulty of facing Al Hilal but insisted his side were focused on securing their first win in the continental competition.
“Facing Al Hilal will be extremely difficult in a competition where every match is difficult, but we are looking forward to our first win,” said the Romanian, who guided Al Hilal to the AFC Champions League title in 2019.
Lucescu said Al Sadd had discussed their domestic defeat but were now concentrating fully on today’s match. He also admitted that lapses in concentration and individual errors had contributed to the goals conceded in recent matches.
“We worked on addressing the flaws and individual errors, and we are fully prepared for the match at our stadium,” he said, calling on Al Sadd fans to rally behind the team.
The match carries a personal dimension for Lucescu, who returns to face the club he led to continental glory.
Al Sadd will need to improve defensively against an Al Hilal side targeting another continental title after their 2021 triumph.
Al Sadd defender Paulo Otavio described the match as crucial, stressing that the players were determined to end their wait for a win.
“This is a very important match for us against one of the best clubs in Asia. We are looking forward to our first victory in this edition, and we are working to be fully prepared,” he said.
Otavio also highlighted the role of the home supporters, expecting them to turn out in force for the clash.
“Our fans are always eager to attend and support the team, especially in important matches. We are ready to give our all, and we want to live up to their expectations,” he said.
Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, completed their final on-field preparations yesterday. Midfielder Sergej Savic returned to group training after completing his rehabilitation programme, while Hamad Al-Yami took part in the opening portion of the session before continuing his rehabilitation. Salem Al-Dawsari remained on his treatment and rehabilitation programme.
