Al Sadd to face Al Ahli in AFC Champion League
DOHA, May 7, 2018 - Al Sadd are back in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2015, and will play host to Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the first leg at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday.
The 2011 champions reached this stage of the competition with three home wins to finish second place in Group C, while the Saudi club clinched top spot in Group A to set up one of the ties of the round. They played twice in the group stages of the 2008 edition with each side winning a game apiece.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreir said:"We have to score goals and not concede. We consider this encounter as one of the most important games of the season for us. We are required to win this game so as to be in a better position before the return leg."
The Portuguese tactician stressed the need for his players not to concede on the home ground because it will increase the difficulties when they visit Jeddah.
"It is a decisive and definitive match. We will work hard to win and qualify for the quarter-finals," Ferreira said. Describing the opponent who were forced to a 1-1 draw in their last visit to Doha against Gharafa in March, Ferreira said:"Ahli is a powerful team with a big history, outstanding achievements and will work hard to achieve a good result."
"My appeal to all the fans, not just Al Sadd supporters is to come to the stadium and cheer the players as as they did in Qatar Cup finals." The Al Sadd tactician added that:"Absences of key players will not affect especially when they are few compared to previous games and all players are in high spirits to offer the best in the game."
Al Sadd are facing a different competition in this stage, a challenge Ferreira knows all too well. "There is a difference between the last stage and knockout phase. We faced many difficulties during the group matches, such as injuries and absences. This made us deal with the matches at that stage according to our circumstances. But in the current stage, games are like life or death."
Al Sadd defender Abdelkarim Hassan said:"I expect a tough showdown as it is a Gulf derby and every team has its history and we will strive to get a convincing a win."The Jeddah club narrowly missed out on the Saudi Pro League title to Al Hilal recently.
On current form, the home team is hot as they thrashed Al Khor 4-0 to book a place in the semi-final of the Amir Cup against Al Duhail. Baghdad Boundedjah is the leading scorer of the competition with seven goals. One cannot bet against the Algerian international adding another to his tally.
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