Doha: Al Gharafa face a stern challenge against Al Nassr today but coach Pedro Martins said his team will go all out to secure a victory against Cristiano Ronaldo’s side and boost their hopes of reaching the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage. Currently sixth in the 12-team West Zone standings with four points from four matches, Al Gharafa have little room for error. Al Nassr, sitting third with 10 points, are in a strong position as the group stage enters its final stretch.
Al Gharafa’s recent record against Saudi Arabian clubs has been disappointing as they remain winless in their last 10 matches against them. However, Martins is determined to end that streak at Al Bayt Stadium, buoyed by the team’s 3-1 victory over Al Wakrah in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) on Friday. “It’s an important game for us and we are looking forward to a victory in front of our home fans,” Martins said in a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We need a win to stay on track for the knockout stage. I hope the players will perform up to their potential.” Martins said that Al Gharafa will stick to their playing style to counter Al Nassr, who come with a star-studded lineup led by Ronaldo.
“We will play with our own style against Al Nassr, which is a strong side with a great striker in Cristiano Ronaldo. However, we will apply individual marking on him. Our chances to advance are still there and we will continue to fight for it,” he said.
Al Nassr, meanwhile, will aim to bo.