Al Sadd’s Paulo Otavio (left) and Roberto Firmino celebrate a goal during match against Al Sailiya.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd remain firmly on course to retain the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title, but their attention is already turning to a crucial AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite showdown against Al Hilal.
Coach Roberto Mancini rewarded his players with a day off after Al Sadd defeated Al Sailiya 3-1 on Wednesday, a result that moved them closer to a second successive league crown in a title race set to go down to the wire.
The Wolves now hold a five-point lead over closest rivals Al Shamal, who have a game in hand, with the two sides scheduled to meet in a potentially decisive final round clash on April 28.
“The win against Al Sailiya is crucial,” Boualem Khoukhi said after the match.
“We needed that kind of advantage before the final round, especially as Al Shamal, who have one extra match remaining, had cut the lead in the previous round.
“We approached the match with high spirits. We knew how to secure the three points. We’re not concerned about the results of other matches; what matters is that we have one more game left in the league and we are confident.”
Akram Afif struck twice while Roberto Firmino added the third in a dominant performance against Al Sailiya, underlining Al Sadd’s strong momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
However, the focus now shifts to continental action, with Al Sadd facing Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in a tough single-leg Round of 16 clash in Jeddah on Monday.
The Qatari champions will be seeking a response after losing 3-1 to the same opponents earlier in the season.
“It will be a challenging match, but we will be fully prepared,” Khoukhi said.
“We will give it our all and head to Jeddah with high morale and confidence. The win over Al Sailiya has boosted us, and we will treat the match like a final.”
Elsewhere, Al Duhail will also be in action in the ACL Elite Round of 16, taking on Al Ahli Saudi FC on the same day.
Meanwhile, Al Shamal remain hopeful of winning their first title despite a setback, suffering a 0-2 defeat to relegation-threatened Al Shahania on Wednesday.
“It was the small details that affected the course of the match. We conceded early, which unsettled us, and as time went on, Al Shahania gained confidence,” said Al Shamal’s Tamer Seyam.
Despite the loss, Seyam insisted the title race is far from over. Al Shamal still have a postponed match against Qatar SC on Monday before their decisive clash with Al Sadd.
“The hope is still there in the league. We have a postponed match and a final game against Al Sadd. Of course, we will play to our advantage,” he said.
“Both matches are like finals for us.”
