The west Asian zone of the Asian Champions League ends on Tuesday and Wednesday and there are still a number of issues that need to be settled. Arab News takes a look at some of the main talking points ahead of the action, where it should be remembered that the top teams as well as the three best-placed runners-up in the five groups go into the last 16.
جدول الدوري السعودي
1. Saudi clubs close to another four-team haul
It happened in 2009, 2011 and 2019 and all four Saudi Arabian teams in the current group stage could make it into the second round again in 2022. Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab are already there but Al-Faisaly and Al-Taawoun, two teams that still have relegation worries waiting for them at home when they return to league action next month, have work to do.
Al-Faisaly are making their debut in the tournament and doing pretty well as they sit on top of Group E, though the lead is just a single point. Al-Sadd are the final game opponents. It was expected that the Qatari powerhouse, as one of the pre-tournament favorites, would be stiff opposition The Doha club are, however, bottom of the group and out of the running after winning just one game despite a star-studded line-up containing Santo Cazorla, Andre Ayew, Baghdad Bounedjah and much of the Qatari national team. It remains to be seen how committed Al-Sadd are.
A win means Al-Faisaly will progress, and even that may not be necessary. If Nawaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan in second fail to beat Jordan’s Al-Wehdat then the Saudi team are through regardless. Al-Taawoun can’t finish first but a win against Pakhtakor, bottom of Group D and already eliminated, should be enough to secure one of the best runners-up spots.
الهلال والاتحاد
There were four teams from Qatar that entered the tournament with Al-Sadd, who have gone through the last two seasons in the Qatar Stars League unbeaten, and Al-Duhail considered two of the front-runners to take the continental trophy. Al-Sadd have been hugely disappointing, especially in defense, with perhaps the way they dominate at home coming back to bite them in Asia. Al-Duhail, who finished a distant second to Al-Sadd in the league, have already qualified despite being in what is probably a tougher group in Asia.