Al-Wahda requests to remain among the top four in the “elite”

Al-Wahda will play an important match when it meets Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League for Elite Clubs, at 17:45, at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as Al-Anabi seeks to remain in the top four positions.

Al-Wahda hopes to regain the memory of its victories after its results declined significantly in the recent period, as it was eliminated from the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup after losing to United 2-4, while it tied at home against Al-Bataeh last week in the 15th round of the ADNOC Professional League.

At the same time, “Al-Anabi” lost its match in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League for the Elite against Al-Gharafa with an unanswered goal, falling to fourth place in the standings with 13 points, equal to its competitor, Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia, which has a superior goal difference and occupies third place, while Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia leads the standings with 18 points, and Iranian Tractor Sazi comes in second place with 14 points.

Although Al-Wahda clinched its qualification to the round of 16 of the continental championship, led by its Serbian star Dusan Tadic and Syrian striker Omar Khribin, the importance of facing Al-Ahly is highlighted in determining the possible confrontations in the round of 16, as Al-Anabi will have the advantage of playing the second leg at its stadium if it occupies one of the top four places, while the possibilities remain open regarding the identity of the team that it will face from among the clubs of Shabab Al-Ahly, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, and Al-Duhail of Qatar. And Sharjah, and Al-Gharafa and Al-Sadd of Qatar.

On the other hand, Al-Wahda’s loss may complicate its position and put it at risk of falling to fifth place, as it meets in the final round of the league stage away from its home stadium with Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia, which puts the team before the necessity of achieving victory in order to avoid facing one of the clubs that will occupy the top four places, and playing the return match away from home.

For its part, Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia, the title holder, is experiencing its best period this season, having achieved victory in nine out of 10 matches it has played since losing to Al-Fateh in the league by two goals to one, on December 26, after which it won over Al-Fayhaa, Al-Nasr, Al-Akhdood, Al-Taawoun, Al-Khuloud, Al-Khaleej, NEOM, and Al-Ittifaq, and tied with Al-Hilal, before winning last Thursday over Al-Hazm.