Sports
Iraqi Police team challenges Qatari side Al Sadd in a thrilling encounter
Iraqi Police host Qatari Al Sadd in a fiery AFC Champions League clash; an exciting match is expected at Al Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad. Don't miss the details!
Iraqi Police face Qatari Al Sadd in a fiery AFC Champions League clash
Iraqi club Al-Shorta is preparing to host Qatari side Al-Sadd in a highly anticipated match at Al-Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad, as part of the first round of the West Zone matches in the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League. The match kicks off at 9:15 PM tomorrow (Monday), with expectations of a thrilling encounter between the two teams.
Police and dam challenges before the confrontation
Al-Shorta enters the match lacking competitive matches, having yet to begin their Iraqi league season. This could pose a challenge for the team, which is aiming for a strong start in the continental tournament. On the other hand, Al-Sadd comes into the game bolstered by having played several competitive matches beforehand, giving them a relative advantage in terms of physical and technical readiness.
Memories of the previous edition and new goals
The two teams experienced contrasting fortunes in the previous edition of the continental championship; Al-Shorta's journey ended in the league stage, while Al-Sadd reached the quarterfinals. This time, both teams are aiming for a strong start, especially as it is their first encounter.
Al-Shorta have never won an opening match in the AFC Champions League, while Al-Sadd, the 2011 champions, are suffering from a poor run of form, failing to win their last six opening games. Therefore, both teams will be looking to break this streak and secure a morale-boosting victory.
Akram Afif: A trump card for Al-Sadd
Al Sadd are relying heavily on their star player Akram Afif , who has been instrumental in both scoring and creating goals in his last five AFC Champions League matches. His presence is a significant boost for the Qatari team as they aim to secure all three points.
A look ahead and the upcoming match schedule
The second round of the West Zone matches will take place on September 29 and 30. September 29 will feature exciting encounters such as Uzbekistan's Nasaf against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and Iran's Tractor against the UAE's Al-Wahda. September 30 will see Al-Sadd take on Sharjah.
Future projections:
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If the police manage to overcome their competitive disadvantage, they could set a new precedent in their Asian campaign and gain momentum for the rest of the season.
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The dam, on the other hand, will seek to maintain its positive trajectory and build on its recent successes in continental competitions.
This match promises to be an exciting start to the Asian Champions League season, with both teams eager to prove themselves on the continental stage and achieve a positive result that will boost their morale for upcoming challenges.
Sports
The reason for Demiral's exclusion from the Al Ahli vs. Shabab Al Ahli Dubai match
Find out why Yasele excluded defender Merih Demiral from the Al-Ahli vs. Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai match in the AFC Champions League Elite, and details of the player's injury and the team's situation.

German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of the Al-Ahli Saudi FC first team, has finalized his squad selection for the upcoming match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai of the UAE. It has been officially confirmed that Turkish professional Merih Demiral has been excluded from the squad for this crucial match, which is part of the eighth round of the AFC Champions League group stage.
Yassle's decision to exclude the Turkish defensive stalwart was based on reports from the medical and fitness staff, indicating that the player is not fully fit and ready for a match of this magnitude. Sources confirmed that Demiral has not participated in the team's group training sessions recently, making the German coach unlikely to risk him in such a crucial game, preferring to rely on the fittest players to ensure the required performance.
Merih Demiral is suffering from the effects of a muscle injury sustained recently, which has kept him out of Al-Ahli's recent matches in both domestic league competitions and continental tournaments. The medical staff is working to fully prepare the player for the upcoming stages of the season to ensure the injury does not recur.
This match is of paramount importance to Al-Ahli, as the team looks to continue its strong performances in the current edition of the AFC Champions League. This tournament, in its new format, has become a focal point for Asia's elite clubs, and Al-Ahli aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of its fans to secure a victory and claim all three points. This would solidify their position in the West Zone standings and reaffirm their determination to seriously contend for the continental title, which has eluded the club for some time.
For its part, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai enters the match with great ambitions, making the encounter a “Gulf derby” with an Asian flavor, requiring the Yassla squad to have the highest levels of focus and tactical discipline to compensate for the absence of one of the most prominent elements of the back line.
Sports
Inzaghi chooses Darwin Nunez as a starter against Al Wahda in the AFC Champions League
Learn about Simone Inzaghi’s decision to include Darwin Nunez in Al Hilal’s squad to face Al Wahda in the AFC Champions League Elite instead of Karim Benzema, and details of the leader’s preparations.

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal's first football team, has finalized his decision regarding the inclusion of Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez in the squad for the upcoming match against Al-Wahda of the UAE. Al-Hilal is preparing for this crucial encounter, which will be the eighth and final round of the AFC Champions League group stage. The Blue Wave aims to secure their place at the top of the group and solidify their readiness for the knockout rounds.
Simeone Inzaghi has officially included Darwin Núñez in Al Hilal's squad for their Asian Champions League match against Al Wahda, giving the Uruguayan striker a golden opportunity to return to the starting lineup and prove his scoring prowess. This decision comes after a period in which Núñez's name was removed from the team's domestic roster for Saudi competitions, making this match a lifeline for him to regain the confidence of the coaching staff and fans.
According to sources close to Al-Hilal, Darwin Núñez will start in attack for the match against Al-Wahda, filling in for the absence of French star Karim Benzema. Benzema's exclusion from the squad is due to regulations limiting the number of foreign players in the continental competition, forcing coach Inzaghi to rotate the team's international stars to ensure maximum benefit from all available players in the Asian squad.
Al-Hilal is enjoying a period of stability, both technically and mentally, and enters this match buoyed by its recent and well-deserved victory in the Saudi Professional League against Al-Ettifaq. The match, held at the Kingdom Arena, ended with Al-Hilal securing a 2-0 win, reflecting the physical and technical readiness of Inzaghi's squad ahead of their Asian campaign.
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Wahda match holds special significance, not only because it's the final round of the group stage (league format) in the AFC Champions League, but also because it represents a true test of Al-Hilal's squad depth and the Italian coach's ability to manage his star players under the pressure of matches and overlapping competitions. Al-Hilal fans eagerly anticipate what Nunez will deliver in this match, as the blue stands aspire to continue their continental dominance and compete strongly for the Asian title in its new format.
Sports
Al-Hilal's absences against Al-Wahda in the Asian Champions League: Inzaghi excludes Theo and Leonardo
Find out who will be missing for Al Hilal against Al Wahda in the AFC Champions League. Simone Inzaghi has left out Marcos Leonardo and Theo Hernandez ahead of the match at the Kingdom Arena.

Al-Hilal's first football team is preparing for a tough and highly anticipated match against Al-Wahda, as part of the eighth round of the AFC Champions League group stage. The match, which will be held at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's home ground, is expected to draw the attention of Asian football fans, as the Blues aim to continue their winning streak.
In preparation for the match, several key players were confirmed absent from the squad. Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal, decided to exclude a number of players for reasons ranging from tactical decisions to injuries. At the top of the list of those excluded was Marcos Leonardo, a purely tactical decision by the Italian coach. This marks the fifth consecutive time Leonardo has been left out, raising questions about the tactical plans Inzaghi intends to employ in the upcoming knockout stages.
The list of absentees also included star player Theo Hernandez, whom Inzaghi was forced to leave out due to injury. The player has not yet fully recovered, having suffered an injury before the last match against Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Professional League. The medical and coaching staff preferred not to risk him to ensure his readiness for the more crucial upcoming matches of the season.
This match holds particular significance within the context of continental competition, as the AFC Champions League, in its new format, serves as the true test for the major clubs in Asia. Al-Hilal boasts a rich history in Asian competitions, being the most decorated club in continental titles, which always places positive pressure on the players and coaching staff to perform in a manner befitting the reputation of the "Leader of Asia.".
Although Al-Hilal has officially secured qualification for the next round of the tournament, the match carries significant weight in terms of consolidating their dominance. The team aims to continue their winning streak and defeat Al-Wahda to guarantee sole possession of the top spot in the group stage standings. Maintaining this lead is crucial not only for morale but also to send a strong message to their opponents in the knockout stages that Al-Hilal is ready to compete for the title. Furthermore, it will allow them to benefit from the advantage of playing against lower-ranked teams in the upcoming draw.
The rotation strategy adopted by Simone Inzaghi, under the pressure of matches and the overlap of local and continental tournaments, reflects the desire of the coaching staff to maintain the fitness stock of the main players, while giving the substitutes the opportunity to prove themselves, especially in light of the influential absences of names such as Leonardo and Hernandez.
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