Doha: Lekhwiya will be hoping for a repeat of last week’s Emir’s Cup win over El Jaish when the Qatar Stars League (QSL) duo meet in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the 2016 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
Djamal Belmadi’s side advanced to the final of the local cup competition on Friday with a 2-1 win over El Jaish and the 2013 AFC Champions League quarter-finalists will welcome back Ahmed Maqsoud, who missed the club’s final group stage match against Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor due to suspension.
Defender Khaled Muftah will also be available after recovering from a recent injury, but young Qatar international striker Mohammed Muntari is ruled out after picking up a knock against El Jaish last week.
“We have had a tight schedule recently as we played several important matches in a short period of time,” said Belmadi (pictured). “The match tomorrow won’t be any different as it is important we get a good result, especially ahead of the final of the cup.
“We have to show our fighting spirit tomorrow because the match against El Jaish will not be easy. Our concentration will be on the match tomorrow and hopefully we will get the result that we are looking for.”
El Jaish, who are making their second appearance in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, will welcome defender Yasir Isa and midfielder Khaled Abdulraaof back to the team after both were ruled out of the final match in the group stage due to suspension.
“This is the fifth match that we played against Lekhwiya this season and we recently met them in the Emir’s Cup,” said coach Sabri Lamouchi, who led El Jaish to a runners-up finish in the QSL this season.
“However, things will be different in the match tomorrow. We have a lot of motivation to avenge our defeat in the cup and we have prepared well.
“We had a good run in the group stage of the competition and our ambition is to continue with the same spirit and have a better result. The team that qualifies will only be known by the end of the second match and therefore we should get the best possible result tomorrow.”
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