Al-Nassr and Al-Sadd Closer to the AFC Champions League Quarterfinals Than Esteklal and Al-Wasl
Both Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and Al-Sadd of Qatar secured valuable away draws, giving them a relative advantage in their quest to reach the AFC Champions League quarterfinals.
In the first leg of the Round of 16, Al-Nassr played out a goalless draw against Esteklal in Tehran, while Al-Wasl and Al-Sadd ended their encounter in Dubai with a 1-1 stalemate.
Al-Nassr played without their Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo due to a technical decision, as Italian coach Stefano Pioli opted to rest him for upcoming matches.
Despite his absence, the Saudi side achieved an important result ahead of their home leg next Monday. They returned to Tehran, where they had previously drawn 0-0 with Persepolis in the final group-stage match, but they couldn’t replicate their earlier 1-0 victory over Esteklal from matchday three on October 22, when Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte—who missed this match due to injury—scored the winner.
However, Al-Nassr has yet to rediscover winning form, having suffered a local 2-1 defeat to Al-Orouba in the Saudi Pro League. They have now lost two of their last three league matches.
Despite the scoreless result, Al-Nassr dominated most of the game and posed the greater attacking threat, coming closest through Colombian striker Jhon Durán, who struck the right post in the 69th minute.
Esteklal have also endured a turbulent period, losing 2-1 to Persepolis in the Iranian league last Thursday, effectively ending their local title hopes. They only secured their Round of 16 spot on the final group-stage matchday by defeating Al-Rayyan 2-0, having gone six consecutive continental games without a win. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr finished third in the unified West Asian group behind fellow Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli.
Thrilling Draw in Dubai
Al-Sadd, on the other hand, returned from Dubai with a crucial 1-1 draw against Al-Wasl, with the two sides set to meet again in Doha next Monday.
Ali Saleh put Al-Wasl ahead just three minutes into the game, but substitute Abdullah Al-Yazidi equalized for Al-Sadd in the 68th minute.
This was their third encounter of the season after drawing 1-1 in Dubai during the group stage and Al-Wasl winning 1-0 in Doha in the Qatar-UAE Super Cup.
The game was packed with action from the very beginning. Al-Wasl struck early when Ali Saleh dispossessed Malian defender Mohamed Camara, dribbled past Pedro Miguel, and fired past goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham in the third minute.
Al-Wasl continued to press, with Al-Sadd defender Ahmed Suhail making a crucial block to deny Brazilian forward João Pedro in the ninth minute.
Saleh then squandered a golden opportunity in the 21st minute, firing over the crossbar despite being unmarked inside the box.
Al-Sadd responded through Spanish forward Rafa Mujica, but Al-Wasl’s Moroccan goalkeeper Khalid Al-Sanani—starting in place of Anas Zniti, who was signed specifically for international competitions—made a brilliant save in the 26th minute.
Barsham later denied Malian midfielder Siaka Sidibé from doubling Al-Wasl’s lead, pushing his effort out for a corner that led to a goalmouth scramble, with João Pedro and Fabio Lima both having shots cleared off the line in the 47th minute.
Al-Wasl paid the price for their missed chances when Al-Sadd found the equalizer in the 68th minute. Akram Afif delivered a pinpoint cross that Al-Yazidi headed past Al-Sanani to level the score.
