Duhail face Taawoun in AFC Champions League on Thursday

Al Duhail’s coach Hernan Crespo (left) and striker Almoez Ali during a press conference at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Qatar’s Al Duhail will kick off their AFC Champions League campaign against Group D hosts Al Taawoun in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. The two sides’ seasons are polar opposites – Al Duhail finished the Qatar Stars League season as runners up, 10 points clear of third place, while Al Taawoun are involved in a Saudi Pro League relegation scrap with as many as eight clubs in the Saudi Pro League. They currently sit 13th, just one place and one point above the relegation zone. One thing they have in common is a recent managerial change. Al Duhail opted to appoint legendary Argentinian forward Hernan Crespo late in March to replace Portuguese Luis Castro, while Al Taawoun went Dutch, recruiting John van den Brom, who took charge in the beginning of April from interim coach Mohamed al-Abdali, following the dismissal of Jose Gomes. Domestically, Al Taawoun have not won a league game in two months, their last victory coming against Al Raed in the Buraidah derby, they have also had three players sent in their last eight matches. In contrast, Al Duhail won five out of their last seven matches, scoring three or more goals in each of the wins. The Doha-based side have the added momentum of having just won the Amir Cup in Qatar. “After going through a long experience as a player in European stadiums, and entering the world of coaching in 2016, I hope to provide the desired assistance as a new coach for Al Duhail in this most important club competition in Asia,” said Al Duhail’s Crespo. “I will bear a lot of responsibility in leading the Al Duhail team, which has a good history in this tournament, to qualify for the next round, and to compensate for the exit from the group stage in the last edition. “We have prepared well for the tournament, and I believe we have distinct and vital players who will be able to make the difference, and we will play as one unit to achieve positive results against our opponents in this strong group.” This term, Al Duhail have added former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld and former Al Sadd attacking midfielder Nam Tae-hee to a squad that is already star studded, while Al Taawoun have also added some quality in Congolese defender Christian Luyinduma on loan from Galatasaray, and Egyptian midfielder Mostafa Fathi from Zamalek. Al Duhail will look to avoid a repeat of what happened when the two sides last met in the AFC Champions League 2020, when they lost both Group C encounters and bowed out of the competition at the group stage while Al Taawoun progressed. The two sides were equal on points, with Al Duhail boasting a superior goal difference yet their head to head encounters ultimately set the Buraidah-based side on their way to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Al Taawoun managed a 2-0 win in the first of the two games, thanks to strikes from Mohamed al-Sahlawi and Abdulmajeed al-Swat, before a bandaged Mitchel Duke played through the pain barrier and won the second game with an 86th-minute header. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa head coach Andrea Stramaccioni expects his young charges to rise to the occasion against a more experienced Foolad Khouzestan FC in their opening AFC Champions League Group C match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. It has been a bittersweet experience for Stramaccioni since taking charge in 2021, leading the Qatari side to the Amir Cup final before tasting defeat against Al Duhail last month. But a return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2018 will provide a boost in morale. “We need to raise our level and mentality and put our younger players in a different situation because the experience of playing in the AFC Champions League will make them grow. In a way we have nothing to lose because this is a starting point and not the point of arrival,” said Stramaccioni. “When I was appointed, they knew I played in the 3-4-3 formation, a system that needed time to grow with a clear philosophy and for players to adapt. My players have reacted well to the new methodology in training so it is a good start.” The well-travelled Italian tactician, who has had coaching stints with various European clubs including Inter Milan, Udinese and Sparta Prague, will meet a familiar opponent whom he faced when managing Iran club Esteghlal in 2019. “Foolad is a team that is well developed and has players with experience of playing in the AFC Champions League. We will not change our style, we will be ready because even though they are strong, they have weak points. Any mistake can change the game instantly,” Stramaccioni explained. Accomplished former Iran player-turned-coach Javad Nekounam has warned his rivals that Foolad Khouzestan will be a different outfit compared to last year where they failed to progress past the Group Stage. “This season we are a different team. For two season we could not sign any players but this year we signed quality players. Our goal last year was to quality to the Group Stage from the Playoffs and we did that. “This season we will fight and give our best performance on the pitch. This is a tough group but we know what to expect. In the last three years, I did my best to form a respectful and disciplined team and now we are ready.” Nekounam expects a thrilling encounter when the two sides meet on today. “They have a very well-known coach in Iran and one of the best international players from our country. We must focus on their key players because we know they have the potential to change the result in an instant.”