RIYADH (Saudi Arabia): Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd will open their 2021 AFC Champions League campaign against Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan FC in a Group D match here on Wednesday.
Al Sadd, coming off a dominant domestic season which saw them lift the Qatar Stars League title unbeaten, will be aiming to maintain that form as they look to add to the AFC Champions League title won in 2011.
Foolad will be heading into the match with full confidence after their emphatic 4-0 win over UAE’s Al Ain FC in the playoff just three days ago to qualify for the group stage for the fourth time in their history.
The 2021 edition will see a record 40 clubs participating, which means only the group winners and three best runners-up from each region will advance to the Round of 16, and Xavi is looking for Al Sadd to secure as many points as they can.
“We need to get points from the very beginning. We need to win and not get a draw. We are Al Sadd, we are a winning team and this is our mentality from the beginning. We have to show our best level and attack, this is my philosophy.
“More so because even with 12 points, we can still be out of the competition. Our target is the first position in the group,” said Xavi.
(Source: AFC)
