Al-Qadsiya training for the first leg against Al-Nasr.

DUBAI, March 3: Al-Qadsiya looks to continue its impressive run in the Gulf Club Champions League as it faces UAE’s Al-Nasr in the first leg of the semi-finals tonight at 10:00 PM at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The decisive second leg is set to take place next Tuesday.

Al-Qadsiya secured its spot in the semi-finals by finishing second in Group Two with 9 points, trailing group leader Al-Ettifaq (13 points) and ahead of Bahrain’s Al-Riffa (8 points) and Qatar’s Al-Arabi (2 points). Meanwhile, Al-Nasr dominated Group One, remaining unbeaten with 14 points from four wins and two draws.

The Kuwaiti side had a mixed start in the group stage, drawing with Qatar’s Al-Arabi before narrowly losing to Al-Ettifaq. They then tied 2-2 with Al-Riffa but gained momentum in the return fixtures, defeating Al-Riffa 1-0, cruising past Al-Arabi 3-0, and securing a 1-1 draw against Al-Ettifaq. Despite facing refereeing challenges, particularly in the early rounds, Al-Qadsiya demonstrated its strength and solidified its place among the tournament’s top four contenders.

Head coach Zeljko Petrovic is banking on his team’s confidence following their recent 2-0 victory over Al-Fahaheel in the Zain Premier League’s 17th round, which helped them regain their rhythm. However, Al-Qadsiya will be without Libyan forward Mohammed Soula and Jassim Al-Matar due to injuries, while Nigerian player Daniel Gibola is suspended due to card accumulation.

Al-Nasr, currently seventh in the UAE League, aims to leverage home advantage and fan support to secure a favorable result. The Emirati side is eager to maintain its unbeaten record in the tournament and take a step closer to the final.

A Qatari refereeing team will oversee the match, with Abdulrahman Al Jassim as the main referee, assisted by Taleb Al Marri and Saud Ahmed. Bahraini official Hussein Al Shuwaikh will serve as the fourth referee, while the VAR team consists of Qatar’s Mohammed Al Sharif and Bahrain’s Sayed Al Alawi.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff