(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Chinthana Wasala/ The Peninsula
Qatari football giants and two-time champions Al Sadd will be looking to impress when they welcome Abu Dhabi-based Al Ain in their Group D match of the AFC Champions League at Al Sadd Stadium today.
Al Sadd are currently leading their group with four points from two matches, and a goal difference of three (5 for and 3 against).
An own goal from Al Nassr's Abdulelah Al Amri secured a draw away from home on their first match, before going on to beat Sepahan 3-0 thanks to a goal from Akram Afif's and a brace from captain Hassan Al Haydos.
The Xavi Hernandez-coached side, who reached the semi-finals in the past two editions, will hope for a win to strengthen their position at the top of the table, while Al Ain need a win to take them back into contention for qualification to the Round of 16 for the tenth time in their history.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Xavi said: 'We are very excited to start. Al Sadd is at the top of the group. We have a lot of youngsters and experienced players as well. We are training well and we will look forward to a strong start, in a competition that will be difficult for everyone.
'I'm happy with what the team's performance at the start of this season. In the last two editions of the Champions League, we reached the semifinals, and everyone is dreaming of reaching the final. We are now playing at our home and this is good for us.
Al Sadd are going great guns in the QNB Stars League this season, winning both of their matches , collecting 10 goals from the two outings.
However, the Barca great is wary of Al Ain in today's game, which will kick off at 6pm today.
'As I mentioned earlier, we are in a good period, but the Champions League is completely different and we will face Al Ain, which is also a different team from last season. They have a good coach and a lot of good local and foreign players, but we are ready to compete.
Xavi added: ' I feel very good. I'm a positive guy. We are winners , and we have many players who won many titles , but it doesn't mean anything . I know everyone is excited but we have to be calm, and go game by game, step by step.
Al Sadd's former Asian player of the Year, defender Abdelkarim Hassan said the competition won't be easy but the Wolves will be ready for the challenge.
'Our group is not easy, but Al Sadd is fully prepared and we hope to qualify as the group toppers. We'll take every match separately, as they come.
'We have benefitted a lot from the resumption of the Qatari league and the early start to training, and this gives us more readiness than the rest of the teams, he added.
Elsewhere, at the Education City Stadium, QSL champions Al Duhail take on reigning UAE Pro League champions Sharjah in Group C. The match kicks off at 6pm. Despite their domestic title win, Al Duhail's coach, former Moroccan international defender Walid Regragui believes his side will need to show different qualities to go far in the AFC Champions League.
'We had a lot of injuries especially after the restart, but we won the league despite those injuries and I have faith in every member of the squad, said Regragui.
'To play every three days and go all the way to the final, you have to have that fighting spirit. I believe the winner this year will not be the best team, but the one with the most fighting spirit and I always tell that to my players.
'We still have a lot of confidence as league champions and we will carry that through into the AFC Champions League. We have to forget the last game and focus on Sharjah.
Al Duhail, who kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 home win over Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis FC courtesy of goals from Mario Mandzukic and Edmilson, but then succumbed to a 2-0 away loss to Saudi Pro League side Al Taawoun, leaving them in second place in Group C on three points.
Sharjah, returning to the competition for the first time since 2004, lost their opening game 1-0 to Al Taawoun in their first game back in the competition since 2004, before earning a 2-2 draw with Persepolis as Mohamed Khalfan's close range tap in and Ryan Mendes' hammered effort from close range cancelled out Ali Alipour's brace.
A win for the Qatari side cAl Duhail have reached the quarter finals in 2018 but exited at the hand of eventual runners-up Persepolis with an aggregate score of 3-2.
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