Al-Ahly begins 'Champions' journey with a clash against Al-Wehda

Al-Qadsia SC begins its continental campaign at 7:00 PM today with a tough clash against UAE’s Al-Ittihad Kalba at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, in the first round of Group 1 of the AFC Champions League Two. The day’s action also features a match between Uzbekistan’s Nasaf and Bahrain’s Al-Khalidiya. The encounter carries significant importance for both sides, as each seeks to secure all three points and make a strong start in a group that appears wide open to all possibilities. The Whites will field a full-strength squad, having held a short training camp in Abu Dhabi to prepare and acclimatize to the local conditions, buoyed by high morale following a promising start in the Premier League, where they have collected seven points from three matches, with victories over Al-Qadsia and Al-Jahra and a draw against Al-Arabi. Syrian coach Fares Al-Khatib relies on his players’ continental experience and their ability to handle high-stakes matches, aiming for a positive result that will bolster the team’s chances of competing for one of the two qualification spots. On the other hand, Al-Ittihad Kalba benefits from home advantage and strong fan support, along with a solid start in the UAE Pro League, having secured three consecutive wins, the latest being a 1-0 victory over Al-Sharjah, giving them a morale boost ahead of this continental test. The two teams have a history of competitive encounters, having met in the AFC Champions League in 2002 in a 2-2 draw, while Al-Ittihad Kalba won their last official meeting 2-1 in the 2023 King Salman Club Cup. Today’s match marks the first time the two sides have faced each other in the AFC Champions League Two under its current name.