Al Sadd players during a training session.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar giants Al Sadd face a must-win showdown tonight against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, as they fight to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite Round of 16.
Coached by Roberto Mancini, Al Sadd are currently eighth in the West Zone, tied on eight points with domestic rivals Al Duhail and UAE’s Sharjah FC. A win is crucial if they are to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
Al Sadd have been in impressive form domestically, topping the Qatar Stars League with a series of wins. In continental action, they bounced back last week with a 2-0 victory over Tractor FC.
Coach Roberto Mancini
But their opponents, Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad, are formidable. They crushed Al Gharafa 7-0 in their previous match and have already sealed qualification for the knockout stage. They sit fifth in the standings with 12 points.
“Facing Al Ittihad will be another difficult match for us, but it is important to achieve a win,” Mancini said at a press conference yesterday.
“Our journey in this tournament has not been easy from the start, but we have an important opportunity and we must seize it.”
Despite the challenge, Mancini expressed confidence in his squad.
“Al Ittihad is performing well and is in a strong position in the standings. This makes the match even more difficult, but we are capable of victory. The players are professionals and understand what is required in big matches,” he said.
Defender Boualem Khoukhi echoed the sentiment: “We are ready to achieve the goal of three points. We are united as one team and know it will be a tough match. We call on our fans to keep supporting us, as they did brilliantly in the last match against Tractor.”
Al Gharafa face Tractor
In a simultaneous kickoff, Al Gharafa will host Tractor at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium. Al Gharafa sit 10th in the West Zone with six points, and a win may not be enough to climb the standings. However, their head-to-head record against Tractor is encouraging, having defeated the Iranian side in both previous meetings.
“We have to be ready to give our best. We know what we can do and don’t feel any pressure. We have everything we need to win any match,” said Al Gharafa midfielder Mathias Normann.
Tractor, who have already secured their Round of 16 spot, are aiming to finish second in the group after their unbeaten run was ended by Al Sadd last week. They are tied on 14 points with Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Wahda FC.
