Qatar’s Al Gharafa will face Al Wasl of the UAE in Round 3 (West Zone) of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The kick-off is at 7pm.

The Cheetahs have been motivated by their recent 4-2 win over Al Ain of the UAE in the second round and would be looking to further their tally of points to six to advance further in the group standings.

Al Gharafa are currently in sixth place having gained three points with a win and a loss. They have scored four goals so far and conceded five. Al Wasl also have three points, but are seventh in the table behind Al Gharafa on goal difference.

Despite starting in the continental championship with a 0-3 away loss to Esteghlal in Tehran, Al Gharafa quickly regained their lustre to beat Al Ain.

Al Wasl are also looking forward to achieve their second victory in the tournament having won one match and lost one. The task for them however will not be easy as Al Gharafa are in good technical and physical conditions, as was evident during their last match in Ooredoo Stars League against Umm Salal when they bounced back from being a goal down to win 3-1 – with successful strikes from Joselu, Ferjani Sassi and Jamal Hamad Mayor.

Al Gharafa’s Portuguese coach Pedro Martins is counting on their attacking strength in the presence of Romanian forward Florinel Coman and Algerian star Yacine Brahimi in addition to Spanish ace Joselu, who has gelled strongly with the team, and Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi among other players.

The best eight clubs from each zone (of 12 teams) qualify for the Round of 16, ahead of the quarterfinals to be played in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4, 2025.