Winners of the inaugural edition of the AFC Champions League™ in 2003, Al Ain brought the curtains down on the prestigious tournament by lifting the trophy again in its final season and will leave no stone unturned in their bid to be the first victors of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Hernan Crespo’s side will be determined to hit the ground running despite the domestic season still in its infancy stage.
While the Emirati club started their season with four points from two matches, history is against them as they are winless against sides from Qatar in their last six games on the continental stage.
Al Sadd, however, will go into the tie having lost 3-1 to Umm Salal on Friday in the Qatar Stars League, their second defeat in four matches.
The reigning Qatar champions have also not won their last five opening matches on the continental stage, with four of them ending in draws.
