Al Arabi in a decisive clash against Indian side East Bengal

Al-Arabi’s first team is set to play a decisive match, facing India’s East Bengal at 4:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, in the playoff round for the main stage of the AFC Champions League Two.

If the regular time ends in a draw, the teams will proceed to 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute halves. If the score remains tied, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout to determine the team advancing to the main stage of the AFC Champions League Two.

Notably, Al-Arabi’s participation in the tournament came as runners-up of last season’s league, while Kuwait directly qualified for the main stage of the AFC Champions League Two after winning the AFC Challenge League in the previous edition.

Al-Arabi prepared for today’s clash through a training camp held recently in Turkey, which included four friendly matches. The team lost 3-1 against Erzurumspor, drew 1-1 with Turkish side Van Sport, and defeated Ammedspor 4-0, before losing 3-1 to Egyptian club Pyramids FC.

Al-Arabi enters the match aiming for victory and qualification, to satisfy the aspirations of its fans, who hope to see the club compete in the second-tier continental tournament.

The technical staff, led by Croatian coach Goran Sablic in his first official match in charge after succeeding Nasser Al-Shatti, recognizes that victory requires a fighting spirit, player determination, a good reading of the opponent and the match, and the ability to capitalize on half-chances to score. Sablic is undoubtedly taking all these factors into account.

The most likely lineup Sablic may field includes Sulaiman Abdul Ghafoor in goal; defenders Abdulwahab Al-Awadi, Jumaa Aboud, Jawhar Khadem Rasoul, and Ali Aziz; midfielders Khaled Al-Murshed, Kenan Maljko, and Badr Tariq; and forwards Ewala, Zaid Qanbar, and Ali Khalaf.

The coach may make several changes to this formation, such as moving Ali Aziz to midfield in place of Ali Khalaf, and deploying a left-sided defender.

For his part, East Bengal enters the match seeking qualification for the continental tournament. The Indian side appears to be the most technically and physically prepared, bolstered by the advantages of home advantage and crowd support.

Although Indian regulations allow teams to field up to six foreign players, the technical staff, led by Spanish coach Antonio Luis, will rely on only three. Spanish player Nacho Monsalve and Nigerian player Nisongyi are absent, and the club has not signed a sixth foreign player.