Al Sailiya are aiming to script history in the 2020 AFC Champions League when they face Iranian team Shahr Khodro in play-off on Tuesday, 28th January, for a berth in the group stage. The kick-off is at 18:10 at the Al Duhail Stadium.
Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al Duhail, the top two teams in the 2018-19 QNB Stars League, had qualified directly for the group stage of Asia’s premier club competition.
Al Sailiya and Al Rayyan, the third and fourth-placed teams, went into play-off to be eligible to make it to the tournament proper.
Shahr Khodro qualified to play Al Sailiya after they defeated Bahrain’s Riffa 2-1 at the Sharajah Stadium in the preliminary round on 25th January.
It is for the first time that Al Sailiya are matching their wits in the AFC Champions League after having their best-ever finish in the Qatar League under Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi last season.
And the team camp is staying confident even though they lost 0-1 to Al Ahli in Week 13 of the QNB Stars League in the weekend, following their 0-2 loss to Al Duhail in the 2020 Qatar Cup semifinal.
The winners of the Al Sailiya vs Shahr Khodro game will join Group B, which includes Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
Al Sailiya rely mainly on players such as Algerian Nadir Belhadj, Iranian Karim Ansari and captain Majdi Siddiq.
Source: qsl.qa