Al Sadd begins AFC Champions League campaign under Răzvan Lucescu

Răzvan Lucescu has begun his tenure with Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League, aiming to replicate his 2019 continental success. The Qatari club, which has won the domestic league for five consecutive seasons, enters the competition in strong form with a perfect record of 12 points and a goal difference of 19-7.

Al Sadd’s debut match in the tournament is against Esteghlal. Due to ongoing conflict in Iran, the match is being held in Basra, Iraq, rather than on Esteghlal's home turf. Esteghlal is currently second in the Iranian league, a competition that was suspended in March following the outbreak of war.

In addition to continental ambitions, Al Sadd is performing well domestically, recently defeating Al-Sailiya 6-3 and securing a 2-1 victory over Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Cup semifinals. The club has also strengthened its squad by reaching an agreement with Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. The 33-year-old, a former Inter Milan player and World Cup medalist, is set to sign a one-year contract with an option to extend until 2028.