Al Sadd relish ‘tough’ Al Hilal challenge, eye win

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd head coach Felix Sanchez said yesterday that the AFC Champions League Elite match against Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Hilal wil...

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd head coach Felix Sanchez said yesterday that the AFC Champions League Elite match against Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Hilal will be challenging. The matchday-five encounter, set to take place at Al Sadd’s home turf at sold-out Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, will see the Qatar football giants aiming to tackle the visitors in their toughest clash in the League so far. 

Speaking at a pre-match press conference yesterday, Sanchez said playing in front of the home fans will be a morale booster for his players when they take on the high-flying Al Hilal side.

“We will face Al Hilal, third in the standings, in a difficult match. Playing at home and in front of our fans motivates us to give our best. We’ll approach this game with full strength,” Sanchez said.

Al Sadd are currently sitting on fourth spot with eight points in the 12-team West Zone standings of the Asian league. On the other hand, Al Hilal, the champions of the Saudi Pro League, currently have 12 points.

Sanchez said that high-stakes matches against teams of Al Hilal’s caliber will help Al Sadd’s growth.