Al Sadd’s coach Jesualdo Ferreira (left) and forward Hamza Sanhaji addressing media during a pre-match press conference on the eve of their AFC Champions League clash against Iran’s Persepolis in Tehran today.
Doha: Al Sadd will be playing for everything at the Azadi Stadium when they take on Persepolis in the second leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League’s (ACL) West Asia semi-final in Tehran today.
The visitors will be looking to overturn the 1-0 first leg lead their opponents enjoy when they take on the Iranian club.
Persepolis become the first team to defeat Al Sadd at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in the 2018 edition of the League after weathering an avalanche of Qatari attacks for 85 minutes and then hitting on the counter, forcing goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to concede a penalty in the first leg of the semi-final match in Doha.
After successfully negotiating a tricky two legged tie in the quarter-finals against previously unbeaten Al Duhail, Persepolis found themselves up against another Qatari side in the semi-finals.
This time, it was their group stage opponents, Al Sadd.
With Al Duhail and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors out of the tournament – Al Sadd is now the most prolific in attack and they will rely on the superiority to put the rival defence to test.
There is no denying that Al Sadd’s main force up front has been Algerian international Baghdad Bounedjah, the tournament’s top scorer at present with 12 goals.
However, he has had a capable supporting cast behind him and none more so than 21-year-old starlet Akram Afif.
Afif proved he is one for the big occasion with goals in both legs of the quarters but contributes in more ways than just finding the back of the net, and he should give the Persepolis defence plenty of headaches.
With Xavi pulling the string in behind the clinical Bounedjah and lively Afif, it will not be a surprise if the Wolves create enough chances to score a few.
Nonetheless, Persepolis are an equally capable team despite the lack of star names and a front two of Mensha and Ali Alipour will pose a headache to any opponents.
Coach Jesualdo Ferreira meanwhile has claimed that his side will fight hard for a win and a spot in the final.
“In the first match, we weren’t bad and we gave everything we had, just as Persepolis. We just were not lucky. I hope that we will be better than we were in the first leg and that fortune will favour us.
But we also need to consider the fact that Al Sadd and Perspepolis are among the best four teams in Asia, so the refereeing should be at a good level and better than in the first leg.” Ferreira asked his players to maintain their focus ahead of the key game.
“What I ask from the players and what we need now is focus. We know that the match will be really tough for us and for the opponent. It is well known that Iranian football is developing well and the evidence for that is the last World Cup, which saw players from Persepolis take part. They have more experience than the Al Sadd players,” he added.
Ferreira promised that his players will display a fighting spirit in the encounter.
“You will see our team fight on the pitch to get the win, I just need you to trust them and you will see all the players as warriors,” adding that they will play an attacking game.
“We will play offensive football in order to win, and that’s the only way. When the players feel the pressure to win, they will give everything they have. Everyone must now that we are preparing the players well and giving them instructions but when the game starts, we have to wait and see what will happen because the ball is at the players’ feet,” Ferreira said.
Curiously, the two teams have already faced off this season having been drawn together in Group C.
