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.

Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers, the head coach of Al-Qadisiyah's first football team, confirmed his team's complete readiness to play the anticipated match against Al-Akhdoud, revealing the strategy followed by the technical and medical staff to ensure the continuation of high performance during the holy month of Ramadan, within the framework of the twenty-third round of the Saudi Professional League.

Intensive tactical and physical preparations

In a video interview published by Al-Qadisiyah's media center, Rodgers explained that the period leading up to this match was relatively longer compared to previous rounds, which proved to be a positive advantage for the team. Rodgers said, "Our preparation period for the Al-Akhdoud match gave us an ideal opportunity to prepare the players physically, focusing on recovery and rest, which was essential for their bodies, while simultaneously conducting intensive training sessions to improve their technical level.".

Regarding his technical analysis of the opponent, the Irish coach added: "We are fully prepared for Friday's match. Physically we are in better shape, and technically we know that we will be facing a team that relies heavily on counter-attacks and tight defensive organization. Therefore, the instructions are clear: we must play quickly and energetically to exploit the spaces, while being very careful and controlling the opponent's attacking transitions during our own build-up.".

Ramadan Challenge and Scientific Program

Rodgers addressed the biggest challenge facing clubs during this period: adapting to the change in lifestyle during Ramadan. He noted that the challenges typically arise in the first few days with adjusting to different sleep schedules and fasting. He explained, "We prepared for this early on, holding intensive sessions with the players, the medical team, and the medical staff to ensure nutritional and physical balance, given the importance of this month for Saudi players and Muslims in general.".

He added: "Our goal is to maintain the highest levels of performance despite changes in diet and match schedules, and our training program has been designed to allow us to continue with the same strength.".

The importance of the match in the Roshan League race

This match is of paramount importance to both teams given their positions in the league standings, adding an exciting competitive dimension to the encounter. Al-Qadsia enters the match in fourth place with 47 points, aiming to solidify their position within the top four and strongly compete for continental qualification spots, benefiting from the technical stability under Rodgers' leadership.

In contrast, Al-Akhdoud is in a precarious position, occupying the seventeenth place (second to last) with only 10 points, making the match a "cup final" for them in their struggle to survive and avoid relegation, something Rodgers warned against when he described the opponent as strong and organized.

Rodgers concluded his remarks by emphasizing the three pillars he asked of his players: "Focus, hard work, and team cohesion," considering them the key to successfully navigating the remainder of the season's matches.

It is worth noting that the match will take place at 10 pm tomorrow, Friday, where Al-Qadisiyah will be a heavy guest for Al-Akhdoud in a match that cannot be divided between the two.