Ahmed Bin Ali World Cup Stadium will host tonight the anticipated summit between Al Rayyan and Al Hilal Saudi Arabia at the start of their journey in the AFC Champions League for the elite. The Asian summit, which is awaited by Qatari and Saudi fans as well as Gulf fans, will start at seven o’clock tonight, and is expected to witness excitement and fierce competition between two of the strongest teams in the tournament from start to finish.
Al Rayyan qualified for the tournament as runner-up of the 2024 Stars League, while Al Hilal qualified as the Saudi League champion.
Al-Rahib hopes that its start will be strong, good and positive despite the strong competition and the difficulty of the mission, in order to gain a boost to continue the journey and obtain one of the eight cards qualifying for the round of 16.
Al-Rahib is participating in the tournament for the thirteenth time, and during this long journey, he was not successful in winning the title, despite all the good capabilities, distinguished elements, and winning cards he possesses.
Al Rayyan therefore has great experience in the tournament in general, and also has experience facing Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, the team that won the most AFC Champions League titles, and achieved good results against them, the most recent of which was a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
The match is expected to witness an exciting struggle and an open offensive performance from both sides. Al Rayyan only knows the language of attack and does not feel comfortable until they achieve victory. Al Hilal is a team that does not know defensive methods and plays attacking on its home field and away from home. Therefore, the mission is extremely difficult for Al Rayyan, who will be required to attack and pressure, and at the same time be wary of the Al Hilal attack, which is characterized by speed, skill and the ability to exploit opportunities and half-chances.
Al Rayyan’s ranks are complete in all aspects, starting with goalkeeping, defense, midfield and attack, which qualifies them to excel, achieve victory and obtain the first 3 points. Al Rayyan is counting on many winning cards to reach Al Hilal’s goal in today’s summit, perhaps the most prominent of which is Moroccan Achraf Bencharki and Brazilians Roger Guedes, Gabriel Pereira and Thiago Mendes. In defense, they will rely on the duo David Garcia and De Sarte, and their mission will undoubtedly be very difficult and strong today.
Al Rayyan relies in its attack on the quick start of the wingers Pereira and Achraf Bencharki and their crosses to Roger Guedes, as well as Ahmed Al Rawi and Tamim Mansour if they play in the match.
Julien Du Sart: Our goal is to make our fans happy
Al Rayyan midfielder, Belgian Julien Du Sart, said that his team is facing a big challenge, and this type of match is very important for Al Rayyan in order to play matches of a high competitive level.
He said: “We have to play defensively and control their most important strengths. We aim to please our fans in this continental tournament, which includes many distinguished players who have great experience in Europe.”
Salem Al-Dawsari: A different confrontation
Al Hilal Saudi star Salem Al Dawsari confirmed his team’s readiness to meet Al Rayyan tonight in the Elite Champions League.
The player said in the press conference, “The mission is difficult against Al Rayyan team on its home ground and among its fans, and we want to maintain our permanent brilliance in this continental championship. Our goal is to continue the journey and our leadership of the continent. We want to obtain the title, and today’s confrontation will be different and there have been major changes since the two teams faced each other two years ago.”
Al Rayyan coach Espagi: We will play cautiously against an experienced team
Swedish coach Boya Espagi, Al Rayyan’s coach, confirmed the team’s readiness for its upcoming match against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
He added in a statement during the press conference that he will play with caution against a competitor experienced in continental championships, and who has great experience through the presence of many distinguished elements in his ranks.
Espagi said that his team’s preparations went well, pointing out the difficulty of the task awaiting them against Al Hilal, the 4-time AFC Champions League champion, who has many strengths in all lines. The atmosphere is special within the team and there is great enthusiasm and desire to present the best in this continental tournament.
“We know Al Hilal’s strengths, so we will try to stop their danger and we will show that on the pitch. We performed well in the last match against Al Shahania in the local league, but the continental competition is different as we have to play with a strict defensive organization that is different from the matches we played in the local league in order to be able to build attacks and have good possession of the ball and ensure that the opponent does not control it,” Al Rayyan coach explained.
“We respect the opponent and have great capabilities. There are many strengths, such as Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, as well as Salem Al-Dawsari. We have great knowledge of all Al-Hilal players, and everyone in the team hopes to present the best in this continental tournament, which includes an elite group of great players,” said Swede Espagi.
At the end of his statements, Al Rayyan coach praised the new system of the continental championship, noting that it provides an opportunity for the continent’s teams in the western and eastern regions to play more matches and gain great experience.
Al Hilal coach Jesus: The tournament represents a big challenge
Portuguese Jorge Jesus, coach of the Saudi Al Hilal team, confirmed his team’s desire to achieve a positive result against Al Rayyan tonight in the anticipated match between the two teams.
The coach said, “The match against Al Rayyan is very important and we look forward to achieving positive results. The tournament, with its new system, represents a big challenge and is different from all previous versions, whether at the level of teams or professional players.”
He added, “The new system of the tournament raises the level of competition between everyone. We will face a good competitor. We have prepared well and our goal is to win.”
Spaghetti is starting to make its mark.
Today’s match is the first at the continental level for the Swedish coach of Al Rayyan, Espaghi, who took over the task at the beginning of the current season. Al Rayyan did not achieve the required performance at the beginning of the league, but with time, Espaghi began to leave his mark on the team, which helped him regain victories and achieve them 3 times in a row, including two times in the QSL Cup and once in the league after the big 4-2 win over Al Shahaniya in the fourth round of the league.
Crescent leaves
Al Hilal coach, Brazilian Jesus, has more than one magic wand in his ranks, including Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Brazilian Malcom, Salem Al-Dawsari, Saud Abdul Hamid, and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bounou, waiting for the strong lineup to be completed with the return of Brazilian star Neymar to the team.
My high focus
Sami Baldi may be a candidate to protect the goal of Al Rayyan Lions today, and he is undoubtedly a distinguished and good goalkeeper, but in the match against Al Shahaniya he made some mistakes that could have cost Al Rayyan a goal or two, which requires him today to be extremely focused, especially on easy balls that sometimes deceive the goalkeepers and end up in their nets.
Sami is a candidate to play, as well as the new Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo Victor, who may appear for the first time today. He is a giant goalkeeper and has great experience that Al-Rahib needs in this important tournament and in these difficult matches.