Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah: Al Ahli will edge ever closer to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League if they can defeat Al Gharafa in Group A at King Abdullah Sports City on Tuesday.
Aqeel Balghaith gave the Saudi side the lead just after the hour when the pair met in Doha last week, but the Qatari team salvaged a 1-1 draw following a last-gasp Robert Quijada equaliser.
Al Ahli have now won two and drawn one of their three Group A fixtures and sit three points ahead of second-placed Al Jazira and third-placed Al Gharafa, who are on four points apiece.
Victory for Al Gharafa would move them level on points with Tuesday’s opponents and make the group extremely interesting ahead of the final two rounds of fixtures as they aim for a third appearance in the knockout rounds.
Both sides go into the game on the back of wins in their domestic campaigns, with Al Ahli defeating Al Quadisiya 1-0 on Saturday and Al Gharafa running out 3-0 victors over Al Sailiya a day earlier.