Qatar’s Al Gharafa are gearing up for a critical AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 Preliminary Stage 2 encounter against the United Arab Emirates’ Shabab Al Ahli at Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday. The Qatari club is hopeful that their star forward, Yacine Brahimi, will be fit to play in this high-stakes match.
Al Gharafa has announced that fans attending the game can collect free tickets at Gate No. 9 of Al Bayt Stadium, aiming to rally strong support for the team as they seek to secure their spot in the group stage.
Shabab Al Ahli earned their place in this round after a commanding 4-1 comeback victory against Iran’s Sepahan in Preliminary Stage 1. The UAE Pro League side, buoyed by that impressive win, will be eager to carry their momentum into the showdown against Al Gharafa. The two teams have a history in the AFC Champions League, having drawn 1-1 in 2015, with Shabab Al Ahli recording a resounding 8-2 victory in their 2019 encounter.
Al Gharafa’s head coach, Pedro Martins, acknowledged the challenge ahead during the pre-match press conference. “Shabab Al Ahli are a strong team with players who have been together for many years. We’ve studied them well and expect a difficult match. They were very strong against Iran’s Sepahan in their previous match,” Martins said. Despite the tight schedule, having played just three days earlier against Al Khor, Martins expressed confidence in his squad. “Yacine Brahimi is improving gradually, and we will see if he is ready to play.”
Al Gharafa midfielder Ferjani Sassi echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing optimism ahead of the match. “We are 100 percent ready. All the players are excited and determined to achieve victory in what will be a tough match. Shabab Al Ahli are coming off an impressive win, but our team is in good spirits, and the experience in our squad gives us strength. We hope our fans will come out in numbers to support us.”
On the other side, Shabab Al Ahli’s head coach, Paulo Sousa, plans to stick with the successful strategy that led to their triumph in Isfahan. Key players Sardar Azmoun and Federico Cartabia, who made significant impacts off the bench in the previous match, are expected to play more prominent roles this time. Defensive stalwarts Bogdan Planic and Breno Cascardo will again anchor the backline, while Sousa may consider starting Argentine midfielder Gaston Alvarez, who impressed in his brief appearance against Sepahan.
Sousa emphasized the importance of the match, stating, “It will be a different challenge from our last fixture. Al Gharafa have many prominent players, but our goal is to win and reach the group stage.”
Shabab Al Ahli defender Eid Khamis added, “It’s going to be an exciting match as both teams will fight hard to advance. We are looking forward to continuing our winning momentum.”
Al Gharafa, who finished third in the 2023-24 Qatar Stars League, are determined to progress to the group stage. They’ve bolstered their squad with key signings, including forward Yohan Boli from Qatar SC and Spanish veteran Joselu, known for his decisive goals for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. The team will look to build on their recent 0-0 draw against Al Khor as they aim for success in the AFC Champions League.
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