Petrovic and Dhafiri speak to the media.

KUWAIT CITY, April 7: Qadsiya will look to bounce back from their early exit in the Zain Premier League title race by securing a strong result in the first leg of the Gulf Champions League final against Iraq’s Duhok, scheduled for 7:45 pm tonight at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.

The "Yellow Castle" fans are eager to see their team take a crucial step toward lifting its third Gulf title, having previously won the championship in 2000 and 2005. The players, too, are determined to deliver a memorable result to compensate for their domestic disappointment.

Qadsiya reached the final by finishing second in Group B with nine points, earning two wins, three draws, and a loss. In the semifinals, it edged past the UAE’s Al-Nasr  1-0 in the first leg and lost 2-1 in the return leg before clinching a 4-3 win on penalties.

In preparation for the final, Montenegrin head coach Zeljko Petrovic opted to rest key starters in last Friday’s league clash against Al-Salmiya. The squad then entered a focused training camp ahead of tonight's crucial encounter.

Despite missing Moroccan midfielders Mehdi Berrahma and Moaz Al-Dhafiri due to suspension from accumulated yellow cards, Qadsiya is expected to benefit from the return of several players. Khaled Ibrahim, Ismail Khafi, Abdulaziz Wadi, Abdullah Mutawa, and Adhbi Shehab, all of whom missed recent fixtures, are likely to feature.

Meanwhile, Duhok is aiming to continue its impressive run in the tournament as it chases its first-ever Gulf Champions League title.

The Iraqi side advanced to the final after finishing second in Group A with nine points, behind UAE’s Al-Nasr. In the semifinals, Duhok stunned Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq with back-to-back 1-0 victories.

Domestically, Duhok has been in strong form, most recently defeating league leader Al-Zawraa in the Iraqi Premier League. Although currently in seventh place, it remains in contention with five games in hand and only 12 points separating them from the top.

Showing its intent, Duhok arrived in Kuwait on a private jet with a 70-member delegation, including seven media representatives. To avoid scheduling conflicts, it held its training sessions at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium rather than Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.

The match will be officiated by a Saudi crew led by referee Majed Al-Shamrani, with assistants Hisham Al-Rifai and Omar Al-Jamal. Shukri Al-Hanfoush will serve as the fourth official. Emirati officials Saqr Al-Zaabi and Yasser Al-Marshadi will operate the VAR system.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff