Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah credited the team’s ability to remain focused for their valuable 3-1 away win over IR Iran’s Esteghlal on Monday.
The Algerian bagged a brace to help the 2011 AFC Champions League winners come from behind to defeat Esteghlal 3-1 at Azadi Stadium.
Young goalkeeper Meshaal Aissa failed to control a backpass, allowing the ball to go under him and into the back of the net to gift Esteghlal the opener.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/al_sadd_celebrate_v_esteghlal_2018_acl_qf.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Qatar's Al Sadd took a big step towards the semi-finals of the 2018 AFC Champions League after Baghdad Bounedjah's brace secured them a 3-1 comeback win over Islamic Republic of Iran's Esteghlal in the first leg of the quarter-finals on Monday.
The 2011 champions began the game brightly but were dealt a blow in the 12th minute, conceding after an unfortunate mistake.
A high ball into the Al Sadd box was headed down by Boualem Khoukhi for his keeper Meshaal Aissa to pick up, but the young custodian inadvertently let it slip past him to gift the hosts an opener.
Esteghlal maintained their lead right up to halftime, after surviving a scare in injury time when Akram Afif's shot rebounded off the post to be gathered by Esteghlal keeper Mehdi Rahmati.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Al Sadd’s 2011 AFC Champions League winners remain the last West Asian side to lift the trophy. With a quarter-final against Esteghlal coming up, this year is the closest they have ever come to repeating that feat.
Two of this year’s last eight faced-off in the 2011 final, with Al Sadd overcoming Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties to become the first, and to date, the only Qatari side to win the AFC Champions League. Seven years on from that night in Jeonju, we look at where each of the 14 Al Sadd players who took part in that game are today.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Al Duhail head coach Nabil Maaloul has expressed his confidence in his side's attacking abilities, as they prepare to host Persepolis in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Qatari champions go into the tie on the back of a hugely successful season in 2017-18, when they won the Qatar Stars League undefeated and added two domestic cups to complete a treble.
Since then, Al Duhail have made a few changes in personnel, the most prominent of which saw former Tunisia manager Maaloul replace Djamel Belmadi at the helm in July.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After more than three months without AFC Champions League action, the continent’s biggest club competition returns on Monday as the first legs of the highly anticipated quarter-finals take place over the next three days.
Four teams in the West and four from the East remain in contention for glory, with no fewer than four former continental champions still in mix. Ahead of the fixtures, the-AFC.com selects four things to look out for.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2018 AFC Champions League returns to action in the coming week with the eight remaining teams vying for glory in Asia’s biggest club competition ahead of the first legs of the quarter-finals.
Four former continental champions are still in the mix, alongside a side with a 100 percent record, a tournament debutant, a 2017 semi-finalist and a Japanese giant as the competition promises to serve up yet more thrilling action over the second half of the year.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The eight clubs vying for the 2018 AFC Champions League title have been busy over the summer months, with some key arrivals and departures. The-AFC.com reviews their transfer business ahead of next week’s quarter-finals.
When the AFC Champions League wheels resume turning with the last eight, some teams will have a new look, with new managers and players joining over the summer, while for others, stability is the key weapon as they pursue continental glory.