The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced the final dates for the anticipated home and away matches between Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli and Qatar’s Al-Duhail, as part of the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, in its new edition which is witnessing fierce competition between the giants of the Asian continent.

According to the approved schedule, Al-Ahli will be a formidable opponent for Al-Duhail in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the first leg taking place on March 2nd at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. All eyes will then turn to Jeddah, where Al-Ahli will host their Qatari counterparts in the decisive second leg later that month at Al-Inma Stadium, amidst expectations of a large crowd supporting the Saudi representative.

The two teams' journey in the group stage

Al-Ahli enters this stage with high morale and impressive statistics, having finished the AFC Champions League group stage in second place with 17 points, delivering outstanding performances that made them one of the top contenders to go far in the tournament. Al-Ahli finished just 5 points behind Al-Hilal, who topped the group, reflecting the team's attacking prowess and defensive solidity during the first stage.

On the other hand, Qatari side Al-Duhail qualified for this round after a fierce competition, finishing seventh in their group with eight points. Their qualification came on goal difference ahead of fellow Qatari club Al-Sadd, who finished eighth. This presents Al-Duhail with a significant challenge to get back on track and attempt to pull off an upset against the star-studded Saudi team.

The importance of the championship and the new system

This match takes on special significance as it falls under the new name "AFC Champions League," a tournament created by the Asian Football Confederation to raise the level of competition among the continent's strongest clubs. Reaching the Round of 16 is a pivotal step towards competing for the most prestigious continental title, which guarantees the winner participation in major international tournaments.

Matches between Saudi and Qatari clubs are always fiercely contested and exciting, given the similar skill levels of both teams and the presence of top foreign professionals. Al-Ahli will be looking to capitalize on home advantage in the second leg to secure qualification for the quarterfinals and continue their quest for continental glory, bringing joy to their large fan base.

German coach Matthias Jäissle, the technical director of Al-Ahli's first football team, has made his final decision regarding the team's roster for the upcoming match against Al-Najma. The coach decided not to include Turkish defender Merih Demiral in this match, citing the player's lack of technical and physical readiness to allow him to play without risk.

This move is part of Al-Ahli's coaching staff's strategy to protect players returning from injury. Coach Yasle is unwilling to risk playing Demiral in today's match, preferring to give him extra time to fully recover. The German coach aims to have the Turkish defender fully fit for the upcoming crucial match against Damac, scheduled for Monday evening as part of the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League.

Looking at the player’s performance this season, Demiral has been a key pillar in Al-Raed’s back line. The (27)-year-old has played (24) matches for Al-Ahly this season, during which he has contributed offensively by scoring two goals and creating another goal, recording (2026) minutes of play, which reflects his high technical value and the impact of his absence on the team’s defensive system.

Demiral has recently suffered a series of absences that have kept him out of action at a crucial point in the season. He missed the team's last five league matches against NEOM, Al-Ettifaq, Al-Hilal, Al-Hazm, and Al-Shabab. His absence also extended to the continental stage, as he missed the last two AFC Champions League matches against Al-Wahda and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai of the UAE. Therefore, his anticipated return against Damac is of paramount importance for restoring defensive balance.

In the league, Al-Ahli hosts Al-Najma at 10:00 PM tonight, Thursday, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel) in a match that is part of the 23rd round of the Roshan League. This match coincides with the Kingdom's celebrations of its "Foundation Day" round. The game holds particular importance for Al-Ahli, who are looking to strengthen their position in the standings and secure an Asian Champions League spot for next season.

Al-Ahli enters the match in third place in the Roshan League standings with 50 points, aiming to secure all three points to continue putting pressure on the leading teams. In contrast, Al-Najma is in dire straits, languishing at the bottom of the table with only 8 points. While the match theoretically seems within Al-Ahli's grasp, coach Yassleh has warned his players against complacency and stressed the importance of respecting their opponents to ensure a positive result.

Real Madrid has taken a formal step to defend its Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, submitting "all available evidence" to UEFA. This move comes in response to the unfortunate incidents that occurred during the team's match against Benfica in Lisbon last Tuesday, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 playoff.

Details of Real Madrid's official move

Real Madrid issued an official statement on Thursday confirming its full and active cooperation with the UEFA investigation. The statement read: "Our club has cooperated fully with the investigation launched by UEFA following the unacceptable racist incidents that occurred during this match." The club emphasized its unwavering commitment to continuing its work to "eradicate racism, violence, and hatred in sport and society," and expressed its deep gratitude for the global consensus and support the player has received from various stakeholders in the football world.

Mutual accusations and ongoing investigations

The case revolves around accusations made by Vinicius Junior against Benfica player Gianluca Brestiani, alleging that Brestiani called him a "monkey" during the match that ended in a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid. While the young Argentinian player denied these accusations on his Instagram account, the evidence presented by Real Madrid extends beyond the altercation between the two players. Multiple videos circulating on social media and reported by the Spanish press documented racist behavior and offensive gestures from a section of fans in the stands of the Estádio da Luz, thus explaining the comprehensive nature of the evidence cited in Real Madrid's statement.

Vinicius: A symbol in the fight against racism

The events in Lisbon cannot be separated from the broader context of what Vinicius Junior has faced in recent years. The Brazilian star has become a global icon in the fight against racism in football stadiums, following a series of incidents in La Liga, most notably the infamous incident at the Mestalla stadium. These incidents led FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, to appoint Vinicius to head a special anti-racism committee, lending international weight and significant influence to any complaint filed by the player or his club.

A true test of UEFA's policies

This case puts UEFA to a real test of its declared "no racism" policies. The sporting world is awaiting the results of the investigation, as a conviction against either Prestini or Benfica fans could lead to severe disciplinary sanctions under European regulations, including hefty fines or partial stadium bans. This incident serves as a reminder that football's fight against discrimination continues, and that protecting players requires decisive action that goes beyond mere slogans.