Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira (right) speaks to the media while player Yasser Aboubaker looks on.
For one final time this season, Duhail and Al Sadd go head to head, this time in HH The Amir Cup semi-final today. The two teams have produced edge-of-the-seat thrillers whenever they have clashed this season.
QNB Stars League champions Duhail and runners-up Sadd were given byes into the quarter-final stage of HH The Amir Cup, where they got past Umm Salal and Al Khor respectively.
And strangely, the two top teams in Qatar are drawn to face-off in the last four, while a title clash would have given a fitting end to a cracking rivalry.
Nevertheless, one can expect another exhilarating contest at the Jassim bin Hamad stadium. The other semi-final between Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan will take place tomorrow at the same venue.
Undoubtedly Al Sadd will carry a huge burden when they face their nemesis Duhail for more than one reason. The Wolves, coached by Jesualdo Ferreira, will also have a point to prove as they finished runners-up to Al Duhail in the league and Qatar Cup.
Ferreira is also facing a dilemma whether to play a full strength side as there is another important game awaiting them on Monday – the AFC Champions League last-16 second leg. Sadd beat Saudi’s Al Ahli 2-1 at home last Monday but conceded an away goal, which makes the return leg in Jeddah a difficult one.
After the Al Ahli match, Ferreira had complained how his players were suffering from fatigue. But the Portuguese manager knows he cannot afford to field a weaker line-up against arch rivals Duhail, that too in a prestigious tournament as HH The Amir Cup.
While Ferreira admitted it will be tough on his players to play two crucial matches in four days, he said they had no option but go for broke. “Because if we win the body and mind recovers from the strain and stress fast,” said Ferreira yesterday.
“We have an important semi-final match and we will meet one of the best Qatari and Asian teams. We played many exciting semi-final matches against Duhail and our goal tomorrow is to win and qualify for the final,” he added.
To make matters worse for Sadd, striker Baghdad Bounedjah will miss the match, as he will serve his second suspension which the Algerian received for showing dissent during their Qatar Cup final loss. However, Spanish midfield star Xavi Hernandez will be back in action.
Ferreira conceded Bounedjah’s absence will make it tough for them. He was also hopeful that referees would not make the same mistake that they did in the Qatar Cup final, when a contentious penalty was given to Duhail in injury time despite the availability of Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
“But if they take the help of the video referrals and still make mistakes it is not fair. The VAR is here to assist teams, not to punish them,” he said.
As for Duhail, they have had one less day to recover after an impressive Champions League win at UAE champions Al Ain. But they also play a day later to Sadd in the return leg at home with a 4-2 cushion and are favourites to go into the quarter-finals.
Belmadi’s men are also keen on completing a treble of domestic trophies, so they will be up pumped up for the clash. “It’s true that AFC Champions League is a big priority for us but we want to win and get to the final of Amir Cup,” said Belmadi yesterday.
“This is a chance for us to prove that we are capable of giving our best under stressful conditions. We have defeated Sadd three times this season, but this does not mean we are guaranteed our fourth victory. Every game has a different ambition and a different ambience,” the Algerian added.
The Red Knights will be without the services of regular captain and attacking midfielder Youssef Msakni, who underwent a cruciate ligament knee surgery in the US on Monday.
But as Duhail showed against Al Ain and in the Qatar Cup final, they are not a one-man team. South Korean playmaker Nam Tae-Hee has been outstanding so far, while Qatar international Almoez Ali has improved with every outing.
They also have Karim Boudiaf and Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi, who emerged as the QNB Stars League’s top scorer with 26 goals. El Arabi was the top scorer last season as well.