The stage is set for the AFC Champions League’s Round of 16 knockout stage that will see Qatari clubs Al Sadd and Al Duhail take the field.

Al Sadd will host Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Monday (kick-off 19:15), while Al Duhail will be away at Al Ain on Tuesday (kick-off 19:10) at he Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Al Sadd face big challenge

Al Sadd, who made it to the Round of 16 as runners-up from Group C with 12 points, should be looking to take full advantage of the first-leg game at home because things will not be easy in the away match on 14th May.

Al Ahli stormed into the Round of 16 as Group A winners with 14 points.

Al Sadd had won the premier continental club competition in 1988 and 2011, and will be keen to dominate the scene in Asia once again.

The Wolves suffered a jolt for the first-leg match as they will miss the injured duo of Ali Asad and Jugurtha Hamroun, and also defender Pedro Miguel due to the suspension he received during their final group match against Iran’s Persepolis.

However, they will be bolstered by the presence of ace Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez and Algerian spearhead Baghdad Bounedjah, who were missing in action during their Emir’s Cup quarterfinal win over Al Khor as they had been suspended for dissent during the Qatar Cup final against Al Duhail recently.

Al Duhail keen to sustain momentum

Al Duhail are having an excellent run this season. At the domestic level, they have completed a double by winning the QNB Stars League and Qatar Cup, featuring the top four teams in the league.

The Red Knights qualified for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 with an all-win record from Group B, the only team to do so in the preliminary stage in this year’s competition.

And they have reached the Emir’s Cup semifinal by edging Umm Salal in the quarterfinal.

It is against this backdrop that they take on Al Ain away at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Al Duhail have the advantage of playing their away game first at Al Ain, who reached the knockout stage as runners-up from Group D with 10 points.

Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi is counting on a mix of young and experienced players to keep delivering the goods, so they will have it easy in the return leg in front of home fans on 15th May.

Al Duhail will be without the services of regular captain and attacking midfielder Youssef Msakni, who is to undergo a cruciate ligament knee surgery in the US on Monday.

They will also miss defender Lucas Mendes, who had received a red card during their last group game against the UAE’s Al Wahda.