Al Sadd face tough task against Persepolis

Published on: 21 October 2018

Qatar’s Al Sadd have a tough task on hand when they face Iran’s Persepolis in their AFC Champions League second-leg semifinal on Tuesday, 23rd October. The match will kick off at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran at 18.00.

Al Sadd’s task is difficult, but certainly not impossible. The Wolves have to overturn a 0-1 defeat they suffered at home in the first leg. They went down to an Ali Alipour’s late penalty goal.

The away goal gives Persepolis a slight advantage, but Al Sadd have the experience and players to put it across the rivals and storm into the final.

Al Sadd, who had emerged as Asian champions in 1989 as well as 2011 and went on to finish third at the Club World Cup in 2011, had ended up runners-up behind Persepolis in Group C this year.

Al Sadd overcame Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and then Iran’s Esteghlal in the knockout rounds.

Persepolis knocked out Al Jazira in the Round of 16 and claimed a remarkable come-from-behind victory over another Qatari side Al Duhail in the quarterfinals.

Al Sadd had defeated Persepolis 3-1 when they faced off in Doha in the group stage this year.

Al Sadd, coached by Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira, mainly have the services of Xavi Hernandez, Gabi Fernandez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif and Hassan Al Haydous.

The top QNB Stars League side may have the services of defender Ibrahim Majed, who was missing in action since their 1-1 draw with Al Gharafa in Week 3 of this season’s QNB Stars League with a torn muscle. He had been undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

However, they will miss regular goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari due to suspension.

Meanwhile, Persepolis are aiming to become the first team from Iran to reach the final since Zobahan in 2010.

Their captain Jalal Hosseini believes the absence of injured defender Hossein Mahini will make things difficult for them despite the 1-0 lead on aggregate.

The Iran international full-back suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a league match against city-rivals Esteghlal at the end of last month, forcing Persepolis to put out a makeshift backline in the first leg against Al Sadd in Doha.

The other semifinal pits Japan’s Kashima Antlers against South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Source: qsl.qa

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