A depleted and heartbroken Al Sadd will have to sum up their confidence and fighting spirit when they launch their Amir Cup defence against Al Khor in the quarter-finals at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium today. 
Last Friday, Al Duhail came from behind to seal a 2-1 win over Al Sadd in the Qatar Cup final, courtesy of a controversial stoppage-time penalty from Moroccan Yousef El Arabi. 
To add insult to injury, Qatar Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee suspended Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez and Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah for one and two matches respectively.  
Further bad news awaited Al Sadd ahead of their Amir Cup quarter-final match against Al Khor, when midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun was ruled out due to injury. Hamroun will be out of action following a knee ligament injury he sustained during a training session on the eve of the last eight clash. Hamroun, who will now undergo comprehensive medical tests to determine the extent of his injury, played a key role in Sadd finishing as runners-up in this season’s QNB Stars League with 49 points, 11 less than champions Al Duhail. Sadd will miss injured Ali Asad as well. 
Al Sadd’s Portuguese manager Jesualdo Ferreira was conspicuous by his absence yesterday in the press conference, with his assistant Nuno Miguel addressing the media. 
Miguel acknowledged the difficulty of playing an Amir Cup match, with Al Sadd missing several player to injury and suspension. But he was confident of his progressing further in the tournament and added the players have prepared well. “Al Khor is a strong team and it won’t be easy for us. But we are prepared well hope to secure a palace in the semis,” he said.
Al Sadd striker Ali Faridoon said his team was aiming to defend their Amir Cup title, especially after finishing runner-up in league and Qatar Cup. “We obviously want to win the title. But we will take it match by match. First we will have to get past Al Khor, who are a good team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al Khor will go into the match with no injury concerns. Their Brazilian playemaker Madison, who took part in the second half of their match against Al Markhia on Sunday, is likely to start. Madison was out of action for a month.
Al Khor coach Nassif al-Bayawi expressed his happiness and pride for his side having reached the quarter-finals. He said they want to achieve more and are gunning for a place in the semis. 
Al-Bayawi denied any pressure on his players and said they would play without any stress, knowing that Cup matches would always be open to all odds. “Sadd are a big club in in Asia, not only in Qatar. I don’t they will be affected by injuries and suspension two or three players. They still have enough quality in their side,” al-Bayawi said.
In the other quarter-finals, Mesaimeer will take on Al Gharafa and Al Arabi will face Al Rayyan tomorrow.