Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira described his team’s AFC Champions League Group D match against Iran’s Persepolis today a tough one. Despite their strong domestic form of late – Al Sadd sit top of the Qatar Stars League – the Doha club got off to a poor start on the continent as they lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli last week, and they will be desperate to get points on the board in what is a tough-looking group.
Sadd will be also be seeking to avenge last year’s AFC Champions League semi-final defeat to Persepolis when the sides meet once more in at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium today. Ferreira’s men were edged out 2-1 on aggregate in the 2018 semi-final after the teams had also shared a win apiece in the group stage.
Al Sadd captain and midfielder Xavi Hernandez was back in training this week after an injury layoff, but is a doubtful starter for today’s match. Defender Boualem Khoukhi may also sit out of the game due to injury.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Ferreira said: “We are looking forward to an intense game. Our preparations have been normal for this game. We did not give our best in the game against Al Ahli. Defeats always have a negative effect and it is a warning bell for us before the Persepolis game, and so it is now time to make amends. All the players are fully prepared for tomorrow’s game but we need to wait before we can confirm the starting lineup for the game.”
Asked if the team was looking for revenge, Ferreira said: “If the Persepolis game was a final, it would have been a revenge match, after we lost to them in the semifinal of the last edition. But we are now playing in the group stage and this match has its own specialties. We will be fully ready for this game, in order to achieve our objective which is to get our first three points.”
Normally formidable at home, Persepolis would have been disappointed with their opening game as they played out a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor, with Mario Budimir scoring on his AFC Champions League debut. The Tehran side also drew 1-1 with Nassaji Mazandaran on Friday as they edged a point clear at the top of the Iranian Pro League to maintain their bid for a third successive league title.
Duhail’s Almoez and Madibo
out of Al Hilal match
Meanwhile, Al Duhail will miss AFC Asian Cup winning pair Almoez Ali and Assem Madibo in their away Group C match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal at the King Saudi University Stadium today.
Both Ali and Madibo are nurturing injuries, but Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi, facing his former club, will look to continue the side’s run of scoring in each of their last 11 games in the competition.
Rui Faria’s men have showed glimpses of the form that saw them deliver a record-equalling nine-match winning run in the 2018 AFC Champions League. The Qatari side cruised past Iran’s Esteghlal in a dominant 3-0 in their opening match.
After a disappointing group stage exit last year, Al Hilal started their 2019 campaign with a bang, earning an important 1-0 win on the road against Al Ain last week to get off the mark.
Today’s encounter against Duhail marks Al Hilal’s first-ever continental match at their new home of King Saud University Stadium, which they had moved to in 2018.
Al Sadd captain and midfielder Xavi Hernandez (left) is back in training, but is a doubtful starter for today’s AFC Champions League group stage match against Persepolis at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. PICTURE: Anas al-Samaraee
