DOHA: Al-Duhail travel to face Iraq’s Al-Shorta at Al-Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad on Monday in the eighth and final round of the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, knowing only a victory will keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Qatari side are seventh on eight points, level with Al-Sadd and Sharjah but ahead of both on goal difference. A win would take Al-Duhail to 11 points, which could be enough to progress if either Al-Sadd or Sharjah fail to win their respective matches.
Al-Duhail missed a chance to strengthen their position earlier when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium by Sharjah, a result that complicated their qualification calculations.
In contrast, Al-Shorta head into the match with little at stake after being eliminated from contention. The Iraqi side are 11th and second from bottom with just two points.
Al-Duhail will look to their attacking options for inspiration, including Algerian forward Adel Boulbina, Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek and French midfielder Boubaker Soumaré, as they chase a crucial away win.
