Al-Qadsiah hosts Al-Wasl in the AFC Champions League Elite tonight. Here is our preview, key talking points, and prediction for the Dammam clash.
Al-Qadsiah will begin their AFC Champions League Elite journey tonight with a difficult home test against Al-Wasl, as two ambitious sides meet at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. The Saudi side arrive with plenty of confidence after beating Al-Ahli 3-2 in their latest Saudi Pro League match, while Al-Wasl have also made a strong start to their domestic campaign. The UAE club drew 2-2 with Al-Ain last time out and have collected three wins and a draw from their opening five league matches.
With both teams entering the competition in good form, this could be one of the more entertaining games on the opening night of the league stage.
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Can Al-Qadsiah’s attacking quality make the difference?
Al-Qadsiah has quickly become one of the more interesting sides in Saudi football under Brendan Rodgers. Their 3-2 victory over Al-Ahli showed exactly why, with Tijjani Reijnders scoring twice before Ivan Toney added another as they built a three-goal advantage before surviving a late fightback.
That attacking variety could be crucial against an Al-Wasl side that has already shown a willingness to play open football. Their first five UAE Pro League matches have produced 21 goals, suggesting that the visitors are unlikely to simply sit back and protect their defence. Al-Qadsiah should therefore look to attack the spaces behind Al-Wasl’s midfield while using their technical players to move the ball quickly around a defence that has already been involved in several high-scoring games.
However, there is another reason this fixture could be fascinating. Al-Qadsiah are making their debut in the AFC Champions League Elite, while Al-Wasl are stepping up after competing in the AFC Champions League Two last season.
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Why could Al-Wasl cause problems?
Al-Wasl may not have the same level of continental experience as some of the competition’s biggest clubs, but they will not arrive in Dammam simply hoping to survive. Coach Rui Vitória knows Saudi football well from his previous work in the country, while Nicolas Gimenez has already spoken about the team’s excitement at moving into the Elite competition after last season’s AFC Champions League Two campaign.
Their recent 2-2 draw against Al-Ain also showed that Al-Wasl have enough attacking confidence to hurt Al-Qadsiah. If they can avoid giving Toney and Reijnders too much space around the penalty area, they could turn this into a much tighter contest than the hosts might expect. The AFC itself expects a cagey encounter, with Al-Qadsiah making their debut while Al-Wasl enter the tournament looking to end a run of five continental matches without a win.
Prediction
Al-Qadsiah’s home advantage and stronger attacking options should give them the edge, especially after their impressive win over Al-Ahli. Al-Wasl are capable of scoring, but the Saudi side has enough quality to control the decisive moments. Prediction: Al-Qadsiah 2-1 Al-Wasl. Can Al-Qadsiah mark their AFC Champions League Elite debut with a victory, or will Al-Wasl spoil the hosts’ big night? Let us know in the comments.
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