The Al Ahli first football team aims to continue its positive run in the AFC Champions League Elite when it hosts Qatar's Al Gharafa on Monday at 7:00 PM at the 'Inma' stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. This match comes in Round 3 of the league stage, in a contest that brings together the home team's ambition to close in on the top and the visitor's need to regain its continental balance.
Al Ahli, the two-time consecutive champions, enters the match with four points placing it fifth in the standings of the Western region teams. The team started its campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor, before overcoming UAE's Al Wasl 3-1, scoring four goals while conceding two. A win would give the Elite champion the chance to strengthen its position in the leading spots and continue its campaign to defend its title, benefiting from home and crowd factors.
For its part, Al Gharafa enters the match from thirteenth place without any points, after losing to Iran's Esteghlal 1-2 in Round 2, following its opening match loss to Al Hilal. The Qatari team scored two goals while conceding four, putting it under pressure to achieve a positive result to keep its chances of qualifying for the Round of 16 alive.
Regarding lineups, Al Ahli, under the guidance of Dutch coach Marino Pusic, relies on prominent players such as goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Roger Ibanez, and striker Ivan Tony. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa, led by Portuguese coach Pedro Martinez, hopes to limit the opponent's threat, while leveraging the technical abilities of players Yassine Brahami, Adam Nasr, and Ismail Bennacer.
Recent head-to-head matches give Al Ahli a psychological edge, as it has not lost in its last six matches against Al Gharafa in the continental competition, achieving three wins and three draws. Al Ahli also managed to score in seven of the eight meetings between the two sides, requiring it to tighten its defensive organization to avoid mistakes that cost the opponent points in the previous two rounds.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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