Al Sadd will take on Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-2025 campaign at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday, September 16, 2024. The kick-off is at 7pm Doha time.

Al Sadd are in the inaugural edition of the tournament as Qatar league champions of 2023-24.

Al Ain, however, are a tough opposition being winners of the inaugural edition of AFC Champions League in 2003. The UAE side also brought the curtains down on the prestigious tournament by lifting the trophy again in its final season.

Al Sadd will go into the tie having lost 1-3 to Umm Salal on Friday in the Ooredoo Stars League, their second defeat in four matches.

The reigning Qatar league champions have also not won their last five opening matches on the continental stage, with four of them ending in draws. The Wolves would therefore want to step up and make a resounding start given that they are among one of the most experienced teams in the tournament.

Al Ain, who now have Hernan Crespo as their coach, will see history against them as they are winless against sides from Qatar in their last six games at the continental level.

The contest hence would be on even keel and the team producing its best on the day shall succeed.

The AFC Champions League Elite draw saw the participating clubs being divided into two groups of 12 teams each in the West and East regions. The league stage will be held from September 16 to February 19, 2025, and each team will face eight different clubs from its region with four matches at home and four away.

The best eight clubs will qualify for the Round of 16 and then the quarterfinals in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4, 2025.

Al Sadd, under Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, have been working on ironing out flaws and being well prepared for the upcoming clash.