Al Rayyan SC announced on Thursday that Argentinian defender Gabriel Mercado will miss the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage due to injury.
The 34-year-old Mercado, who joined Al Rayyan two years ago, picked up the injury during their 2-1 defeat against QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd on Wednesday.
“Mercado injured his knee ligaments in the last match against Al Sadd and therefore he is confirmed to miss the group stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League,” read a club statement.
Laurent Blanc’s men will travel to Goa as they will be playing in Group E of the 2021 AFC Champions League alongside India's FC Goa, last year’s runners-up Persepolis FC of the Islamic Republic of Iran and UAE’s Al Wahda FSCC, who advanced from Wednesday's from playoff.

Qatar SC’s Ceballos suspended for three matches
Qatar Sports Club striker Cristian Ceballos was fined QAR 30,000 and suspended for three matches for violent play by the Qatar Football Association’s disciplinary committee yesterday.
Ceballos was shown red card on Tuesday after his boot had landed on the chest of Al Ahli forward Hernan Perez.
Meanwhile, Qatar SC official Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi was fined QAR 30,000 and suspended for three matches for unsporting behaviour towards match officials. Al Kharaitiyat player Abdul Hadi Numan Fahid was fined QAR 10,000 and suspended for three matches for abusing the referee.