Derby in Doha: Sadd Ready to Push Back Against Sharjah in AFC Elite Showdown
29 septembre 2025
Overview
Al-Sadd of Qatar welcomes Al-Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates to Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha for a pivotal AFC Champions League Elite match on Tuesday evening, as the West Zone continues its campaign.
In their previous outing, Hassan Al-Hidous rescued a point for Sadd with a second-half goal in a 1-1 draw away to Police of Iraq, leaving them mindful not to drop points at home, especially with Sharjah coming off a 4-3 win over Al-Gharafa.
Al-Sadd, the 2011 champions, reached the quarterfinals last season after exiting in the group stage in the prior three editions. They know every home point matters and are prepared for a stern test against Sharjah.
Historically, Sadd have not lost to Sharjah in their last two meetings and are undefeated in 16 consecutive AFC Champions League clashes against UAE clubs, recording seven wins and nine draws in those meetings.
Sharjah, after defeating Al-Gharafa, seek a second win and remain a tough opponent even away from home. As last season’s AFC Champions League runners-up, they are unlikely to be unsettled by a trip to Doha’s stadium and will push Sadd to the limit.
Coach Felix Sanchez spoke at the pre-match press conference, stressing that the Asian competition is demanding and every match carries weight, with the clash against Sharjah presenting a real challenge for his side.
“We must take advantage of home support and stay focused to secure a positive result,” he said. “After the draw in the opener, we aim to deliver a solid performance and meet the expectations of our fans.”
Milosevic, Sharjah’s coach, acknowledged the difficulty of an away fixture and noted injuries within his squad but remained confident in his side’s ability to claim a win. He also praised the facilities in Qatar, saying they motivate Sharjah to perform at a high level and return to the UAE with a positive result for their supporters, even if it means momentarily stepping away from domestic duties.
Roman Saiss, Sadd defender, confirmed the team’s readiness, stating they have prepared well for a continental test on home soil with strong crowd backing. He pledged maximum effort to secure victory in front of their supporters.
Caio Lucas, Sharjah’s player, expressed readiness for a tough away game, promising that his team will work hard to delight their fans and secure a favorable result against a strong Sadd side.
The West Zone third round is scheduled for October 20-21, featuring multiple fixtures across the region. Each team will play eight group stage matches, with the top eight from each zone advancing to the Round of 16 in March 2026. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will take place in a centralized format in Saudi Arabia in April/April of the following year.
In summary, Sadd will look to leverage home advantage to secure a vital win, while Sharjah aim to extend their impressive continental form. The result could set the tone for the West Zone’s second phase as the AFC Elite competition intensifies.
Punchline 1: This game is so tense, even the ball might file a complaint about the referee’s whistle. Punchline 2: IfMilosevic can spell his surname under pressure, he can spell victory across the scoreboard—watch this space for the dramatic finale.
