Felix Sanchez’s Al Sadd are confident ahead of the crucial away leg as they finished just above the UAE club in the Elite group stage standings, having secured three wins and three draws from their eight matches.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match Sanchez said, “We are excited to be here again and are fully focused on delivering a strong performance to secure a positive result. We’ve faced Al Wasl twice this season, and both matches posed significant challenges, so we know what to expect. Playing a two-leg Round of 16 will be tough, but we are ready for the challenge.”
Sanchez added: “We have recently faced tough matches in the QSL and managed to secure victories, but this match against Al Wasl will be different, with the added complexity of two legs. I have great confidence in our players to put forward their best performances.”
It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides with Al Saad having won twice with their most recent encounter – in the league stage – ending in a 1-1 draw. The first eight teams out of 12 teams from the West Zone qualify for the round of 16. While Al Wasl comfortably booked their Round of 16 spot, their recent form has been inconsistent with their last two league stage matches ending in defeat. Their domestic form has also been patchy, with a 2-1 defeat to Khor Fakkan on Thursday leaving them on 27 points and their title defence as good as over.
Al Sadd, on the other hand, are firing on all cylinders after qualifying for the knockout stage of the continental tournament for the first time since 2020.
Felix Sanchez’s side are well in place to defend their Qatar Stars League (QSL) title, a 4-0 win over Al Gharafa SC on Thursday moving them to 37 points – one behind Al Duhail SC. The mercurial Akram Afif is also in fine form on the continent, his four goals from seven matches already matching his total tally over 17 matches from the previous three seasons.
“The Round of 16 marks a new chapter in the AFC Champions League Elite, and we are fully prepared for it. The confrontation with Al Wasl will be tough and intense, and we are aiming to achieve the most important result in tomorrow’s match ahead of the return leg in Doha,” Al Sadd player Mustafa Meshaal said.
Al Sadd will play a return leg match against the UAE club on March 10 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The first leg matches of the round of 16 of the competition, which will be held over the course of today and tomorrow, also bring together Esteghlal Tehran with Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan with Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, and Al Rayyan of Qatar with Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, for the western region.
Esteghlal vs Al Nassr
Esteghlal have to end a poor run if they are to beat Al Nassr Club in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie today. Iran’s Esteghlal are winless in their last five matches against Saudi Arabian clubs while Al Nassr are undefeated in 11 games against teams from the Central Asian nation. Esteghlal will head into the tie not in their best form, having lost to 2-1 to Persepolis in an Iran Pro League tie on Thursday, with the defeat leaving them on 26 points and well off the pace in the title race.
Qualification to the elite round of 16 was also only sealed on the final league matchday, thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC. The victory against Al Rayyan ended a six-match winless streak on the continent and Esteghlal will hope to maintain their momentum, especially with their fans backing them. Al Nassr will also head into the tie on the back of a defeat, a 2-1 loss to Al Orobah on Friday leaving their Saudi Pro League title hopes in tatters.
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