Al Gharafa face Iranian club Foolad Khouzestan in the fifth round of their 2022 AFC Champions League campaign in Group C on Friday, 22nd April. The match will kick off at 23:15 at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.

Al Gharafa had played out a goalless draw with Foolad in their opener and then beat Ahal FC of Turkmenistan 2-0 in the second round.

The Cheetahs were held to a 1-1 draw by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the third round and lost to the same team by a 2-8 margin in the fourth round, in the back-to-back match.

Al Gharafa are third with five points in Group C, where Foolad are leading with eight points.

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai are second with six points and Ahal last with one point.

Foolad and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai are the only unbeaten teams in the group.

Al Gharafa’s Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni would expect his wards to put a far better show that they put up against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the last round, in order for them to progress to the knockout stage.

The top team from each group will qualify for the Round of 16 along with the three best second-placed teams from the five West Asia groups.