After Al Duhail’s exit, Al Sadd carry the nation’s hopes in the AFC Champions League when they host Persepolis in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium today. Duhail were the overwhelming favourites for the continental title before their unbeaten run was halted by Persepolis, while Sadd have quietly marched on to their first semis in seven years.
Sadd are the only side left in the competition to have won the AFC Champions League, while they were also the last team from West Asia to lift the coveted trophy when they defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 2011 final.
Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira knows that the team that handles the pressure from here on will be the one to make it to the final. Playing in the first leg at home as its advantages and disadvantages, with a victory and a clean sheet easing the pressure somewhat for the away leg.
Ahead of the match, Ferreira called on local fans to rally behind their team. “We know the strength of the Iranian team and we invite our fans to support the players. We need to score as many goals as possible and without the support of fans we cannot achieve that,” the Portuguese manager said yesterday.
“We are focusing on the mental factor for it’s an important game not only for Al Sadd club but for the whole country and we are trying to motivate the players to perform their best,” he added. 
Scoring goals against Persepolis would not be easy even for Sadd though, despite having a potent frontline. The Iranian side have the meanest defence in Asia, and the onus will be on prolific Baghdad Bounedjah to find the net.
The Algerian striker scored twice against Esteghlal in the quarter-finals in Tehran;  unsurprisingly he was on target once again in the second leg too making him the top scorer in the tournament so far with 12 goals.
On the eve of the match, Ferreira was less worried about his attack than his defence. The arrival of defensive midfielder Gabi from Atletico Madrid and Jung Woo-young from Vissel Kobe has strengthened the Qatari club, but they still have chinks in their backline comprising Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Hamad Ismael and Abdulkarim Hassan, for their Portuguese manager to have a sleepless night.
Ferreira said the key for his side is to not concede any goal before they make a trip to Azadi Stadium in Tehran on October 23. 
“Against Persepolis, we should be wary of conceding a goal in our home match. We know that how strong Persepolis are. Our aim is to defeat Persepolis with many goals as well as not conceding a goal. We know that Al Sadd will have a difficult task in the second leg in Tehran,” Ferreira said.
Meanwhile, Qatar international striker Hassan al-Haydous looks set to start today, having recovered from ankle injury which forced him to miss league matches against Al Rayyan and Qatar SC. They also have captain Xavi to fall back on experience, with the midfield maestro having played a massive role in big matches during his chequered career with Spanish giants Barcelona.  
The experienced Gabi said it will be up to him and Xavi to instill the confidence in young players for the crucial game. 
“We, as experienced players, are always trying to guide the young players and imbibe a winning mentality in them. When I was at Atletico Madrid, I was playing to win and win titles and that’s what I’m doing at Sadd,” Gabi said.
Al Sadd’s last defeat in the tournament was to Persepolis in Tehran in the group stages, but they also secured a 3-1 win over Iranians at home. “We played Persepolis twice in the group stage but we know that they are a better team at the moment. To book a place in the final match is like a dream for us,” the Portuguese coach added.
Meanwhile, Persepolis have reached the semi-finals for the second time in their history and the second time in a row after 2017. Persepolis head coach Branko Ivankovic said he will not change his philosophy despite ‘shortage of players’.
Ivankovic will be without suspended duo Kamal Kamyabinia and Mohamed Ansari, while defender Hossein Mahini sustained a knee injury in the league match against Esteghlal.