The AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah is set for takeoff following the conclusion of the West Zone’s Round of 16 matches yesterday.
The quarter-final ties will be played between Thursday and Saturday, with matches to be contested at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
The quarter-final action will kick off on Thursday with Al Sadd SC playing Japan’s Vissel Kobe.
Qatar’s Al Sadd will have a spring in their step after edging favourites Al Hilal SFC 4-2 on penalties in their Round of 16 tie on Monday.
Al Sadd came from behind thrice to force a 3-3 draw with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and will be seeking a semi-final spot after falling at the last eight stage last season.
Vissel Kobe, however, are a team in form as they will head into the tie well on course for the J League title.
They are seeking to savour continental glory for the first time and will be fired up for whatever Al Sadd throw at them.
Al Ahli Saudi FC needed extra time to keep their title defence on track, with Riyad Mahrez’s stunning extra-time free-kick giving them a 1-0 win against Qatar’s Al Duhail SC in their Round of 16 tie on Monday.
Al Ahli, who won the title in emphatic fashion last season, may have walked away with the win but would have considered themselves fortunate as Al Duhail had their chances in a pulsating tie.
The Jeddah-based side will be determined to raise their game for Friday’s quarter-final, especially as they will be facing a Johor Darul Tazim team seeking to create more history.
The Malaysian side are appearing at this stage of the competition for the first time and having seen off the challenges of several top teams in the East Zone, will relish the opportunity of taking on the defending champions.
FC Machida Zelvia will be on a mission to prolong their continental debut, having impressed enroute to qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The Japanese side topped the East Zone League Stage with 17 points and showed grit to edge Gangwon FC of Korea Republic 1-0 on aggregate in the Round of 16.
With a spot in the semi-finals just one match away and having defeated some of the biggest names in Asian football to reach this stage, Machida will be fired up for the challenge of facing Al Ittihad Club.
So will Al Ittihad, with the Saudi Pro League side aiming for a third continental crown after having lifted the AFC Champions League trophy in 2004 and 2005.
They had to battle till the end to see off the challenge of UAE’s Al Wahda FC in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, edging to a 1-0 win thanks to Fabinho scoring from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the game in extra-time but with their fans urging them on, Al Ittihad will feel the title is within reach.
Thailand’s Buriram United and Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE will conclude the quarter-final action on Saturday with both sides going into the tie in fine form.
Buriram clinched a fifth consecutive Thai League 1 title last weekend, confirming themselves as champions with five matches to spare.
They will be determined to advance to the semi-finals after having suffered elimination at the last eight stage last season and with their confidence sky high, they will be confident of their chances.
Shabab Al Ahli, however, will be equally optimistic after cruising past Tractor FC with a 3-0 win in their Round of 16 tie on Tuesday.
While the goals flowed only after Tractor were reduced to 10 men, Shabab Al Ahli deserved victory as they dominated proceedings against the Islamic Republic of Iran side.
In the quarter-finals for the first time since 2015, Shabab Al Ahli will now be aiming to lift the coveted trophy.
Quarter-finals
Al Sadd SC (QAT) v Vissel Kobe (JPN)
Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)
FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Al Ittihad Club (KSA)
Buriram United (THA) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)
