Confident Al Rayyan take on Saipa in Champions League play-off
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Al Rayyan would be hoping they can replicate the fine showing against Al Arabi in their last Qatar Stars League match when they take on Iran’s Saipa in the AFC Champions League play-off match at Al Sadd Stadium on Tuesday.
New recruit Gelmin Rivas was off to a flier against Arabi, scoring two goals and setting up the other in their 3-1 victory against an Arabi who had strengthened by adding Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji and Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony to the side, and the Venezuelan striker will be Rayyan’s trump card against Saipa as well.
Rayyan will be bolstered by the presence of captain Rodrigo Tabata, who has been suspended for two QNB Stars League matches as a result of the decision against him by the Qatar Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee for his action during the match against Al Kharaitiyat in the QSL Cup.
Tabata had missed their Arabi match and will also sit out in their Qatar Clasico against Al Sadd on 23rd February.
Rayyan, under Turkish coach Bulent Uygun, also have the likes of Lucca Borges, Gonzalo Viera, Koh Myong-Jin and Sebastian Soria.
Saipa qualified for the play-off after finishing fourth in the Iranian league last season. They then beat India’s Minerva Punjab to qualify for Al Rayyan. The winners will enter Group B, which includes the UAE’s Al Wahda, Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan champions Lokomotiv.
QSL champions Al Duhail and runners up Al Sadd directly qualified for the group stage of 2019 AFC Champions League while Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa, who finished third and fourth in the standings, are in the play-off.
