Al-Hilal and Al-Sadd are set to clash at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in the round of 16 of the 2025–2026 AFC Champions League.
Al-Sadd’s Preparation and Squad
Al-Sadd’s coach, Roberto Mancini, seems to be drawing inspiration from history to try and defeat Al-Hilal. Al-Sadd have brought a private Tunisian chef with their 55-strong delegation in Jeddah to ensure the squad sticks to its prescribed diet. The Qatari club included a Tunisian chef in its delegation of players, coaches and administrators to ensure strict compliance with the team’s diet plan.
Mancini has picked a 24-man squad featuring 10 foreign players. The squad includes Brazilian left-back Paulo Otávio, right winger Giovanni Henrique, and playmaker Claudinho. Roberto Firmino also features up front.
The Al Sadd squad also includes Moroccan centre-back Romain Saïss, Uruguayan midfielder Agustín Soria, and Spanish striker Rafa Mochica. French right-back Younes El Hannash, Dutch winger Javiero Delroson and Malian midfielder Mohamed Kamara are also included.
Fourteen Qatari internationals complete the matchday squad. Among them are 2019 and 2023 Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif, captain Hassan Al-Haydos and right-back Pedro Miguel.
Al-Hilal’s Absences
Mancini is leaving nothing to chance, hoping such meticulous attention to detail will deliver peak preparation. Al-Hilal will be missing Mohammed Kanno, Malcom de Oliveira, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nasser Al-Dossari, Sultan Mandash and Youssef Akchichik.
The Road Ahead
The winner will advance to the quarter-finals to face Japanese side Vissel Kobe. Jeddah will host the later rounds.
The full Al Sadd squad is as follows: Saad Al-Dosari, Meshaal Barsham, Youssef Al-Balushi, Karim Mohammed, Pedro Miguel, Roman Saiss, Ahmed Suhail, Paulo Otávio, Tariq Salman, Agustín Soria, Mohamed Camara, Rafa Mochica, Akram Afif, Hashim Ali, Giovanni Henrique, Claudinho, Roberto Firmino, Younis Al-Hannash, Ali Asad, Javiero Delroson, Khoukhi Boualem, Hassan Al-Haydos, Mohamed Al-Bakri and Abdullah Al-Yazidi.