Al Sadd will host Iranian club Esteghlal in the second round (West Zone) of 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd club on Monday, September 30, 2024. The kick-off is at 7pm.

Al Sadd are competing in the inaugural edition of AFC Champions League Elite as the Qatar league champions.

This match holds significant importance for Al Sadd, who aim to secure their first victory in the continental tournament following a 1-1 draw against Al Ain from the UAE in their opening match.

Currently, Al Sadd have accumulated one point, same as Al Ain, Al Shorta from Iraq and Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia after the initial round of matches.

Conversely, Esteghlal lead the West Zone group; holding first place with three points due to their superior goal difference compared to Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia, Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia and Al Wasl from the UAE, who are all on the same points; having beaten Al Gharafa 3-0 in their first match.

In their recent performance, Al Sadd secured a 4-2 victory against Al Gharafa in Week 6 of Ooredoo Stars League, showcasing a commendable level of play. Coach Felix Sanchez is likely reassured by the standout players in his squad and has focused on preparing the team for the challenging encounter against the Iranian side.

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

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