Al Sadd are continuing preparations for their AFC Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli on Monday. The return match is in Jeddah on 14th May.

Ali Asad and Jugurtha Hamroun will be missing in action due to injuries. Hamroun is recovering from a knee problem, while Ali is nursing a muscle cramp.

Defender Pedro Miguel will also miss the game due to suspension. He had received a second yellow card during Al Sadd’s last Group C match against Iran’s Persepolis.

However, Spanish midfield star Xavi Hernandez and Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who both missed Al Sadd’s 4-0 Emir’s Cup quarterfinal victory over Al Khor due to suspension for dissent during their Qatar Cup final loss to Al Duhail recently, will be back in action.

Al Sadd qualified for the Round of 16 as runners-up from the group with 12 points. Persepolis were the group toppers on 13 points.

The delegation of Al Ahli, who topped Group A with 14 points, reached Doha on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Christopher James of Australia has been named as referee for the match. David Edward and Anton Shchetinin are his assistants. The fourth official will be Hussain Abuyahya. Mohammed Saifuddin will be the match commissioner and Nathan Krishnan the referees’ observer.