Preview: Al Duhail vs Al Ahli Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 first-leg

The Red Knights will take on the Royals in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite!

AFC Champions League Elite is set to return as the knockout fixtures begin, and Qatari side Al Duhail will host Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli on Monday. They previously faced each other in the league phase, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. That fixture was also played in the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, so it won’t be a different experience for Al Ahli.

Al Duhail are one of the strongest teams in Qatar and in Asia, but this season hasn’t been their best. In the Qatar Stars League, they are suffering from poor performance, and in the Champions League Elite, they finished seventh in the table. Duhail played eight games, out of which they won two, drew two and lost four games. Historically, these two sides always had very close encounters, and fans can expect the same this time as well.

On the other hand, Al Ahli won this competition last season and will be aiming to defend their title. They are currently top of the table in the Saudi Pro League and finished second in the league phase of the Champions League. In eight fixtures, they won five, drew twice and lost just once.

Considering their current form, despite playing away from home, they are pretty much the favourites to win this match. They can’t afford to take the home side lightly at all, and this will be a mouthwatering clash for sure.

Kick-off:

• Location: Doha, Qatar
• Stadium: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
• Date: Monday, 2 March
• Kick-off Time: 11:45 PM IST
• Referee: TBD
• VAR: In Use

Form

Al Duhail (in all competitions): L-D-L-W-D

Al Ahli (in all competitions): W-W-W-W-W

Players to Watch

Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail)

The Algerian international joined the Qatari side this season. He hasn’t got as many minutes as he would have liked to get, but so far, things have been decent for him. Boulbina is 22 years old and is a proper threat to the opposition’s defence.

Facing a tough opposition like Al Ahli will be a difficult task, and he will have to step up his game and help his team get a win. In seven AFC Champions League Elite matches, he has scored six goals and provided one assist.

Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)

The English international is on fire this season and is currently the top scorer of the Saudi Pro League. His performance in the AFC Champions League Elite hasn’t been that good compared to the Saudi League. Overall, he has been consistent and leads the team with full professionalism. This season, he has played 29 matches so far, in which he scored 24 goals and provided seven assists.

Match Facts

• Their previous encounter ended in a stalemate
• Al Ahli finished second, and Al Duhail finished seventh in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite
• Al Ahli is the defending champion of this competition

Al Duhail vs Al Ahli: Betting Tips & Odds

• Tip 1 – This fixture to end in a stalemate
• Tip 2 – Both teams to score
• Tip 3 – Goals scored over 1.5

Injury and Team News

Tuta is injured for the home side for a long time, the rest of the players are fit to play on Monday.

No major injury issues are going into this match. The players are fit to play for Al Ahli

Head-to-Head

Matches: 5

Al Duhail: 1

Al Ahli: 1

Draws: 3

Predicted Lineups

Al Duhail Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):

Zakaria (GK); Rawi, Castelletto, Bamba, Junior; Bourigeaud, Ceara, Soumare; Brake, Piatek, Boulbina

Al Ahli Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):

Mendy (GK); Hawsawi, Ibanez, Demiral, Abdulrahman; Kessie, Aljohani, Atangana; Galeno, Toney, Goncalves

Match Prediction

The home team are in awful form, but they have always competed well against Al Ahli in the past. This won’t be an easy fixture for the Saudi side, and fans can expect goals in this match. Most probably, the first fixture will end in a stalemate.

Prediction: Al Duhail 2-2 Al Ahli

Telecast Details

India: FanCode

Saudi Arabia: beIN Sports

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