Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan face a daunting task as they look to turnaround a 1-3 deficit against Al Ahli Saudi FC in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 tie tonight.
With Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez in fine form, Al Ahli Saudi FC will expect to safely navigate past Al Rayyan at their home turf of King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Al Ahli produced a commanding performance in the first leg and had they been more clinical, their place in the quarter-finals would have been sealed last week.
Al Ahli needed a 90th minute goal from Galeno to salvage a draw with Al Khaleej in a Saudi Pro League tie on Friday and the Jeddah-based side will be determined to avoid such drama against Qatar’s Al Rayyan.
The result kept them in fifth place in the Saudi Pro League standings but Al Ahli have been a totally different side in the AFC Champions League Elite - with last week’s victory against Al Rayyan their eighth in nine matches.
Unbeaten in their last 14 games on the continent, Firmino and Mahrez have been at the front end of their challenge and having scored in all nine matches this season, it is hard to see Al Ahli not advancing to the quarter-finals for the sixth time and first since the 2020 season.
Al Rayyan felt they deserved more from the first leg but wastefulness in front of goal meant they were punished by a rampant Al Ahli and the Qatari side can’t afford to hold back today if they are to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
That, however, is easier said than done as not only did Al Rayyan lose both their home matches against Al Ahli this season but have only won one of their nine away ties against Saudi Arabian sides.
Roger Guedes will be key to their hopes of a comeback - the Brazilian’s effort in the first leg meaning he has scored four of the nine goals Al Rayyan have to their name in the AFC Champions League Elite- with the forward also netting once in their 5-1 win against Al Khor in a Qatar Stars League clash on Friday.
