# Al Qadsiah face winless Al Sadd in Dammam days after losing top spot to Al Hilal

Al Qadsiah, in their debut AFC Champions League Elite campaign, can strengthen their position in the West league stage against an Al Sadd side bottom after two straight defeats. Brendan Rodgers is without Waleed Al-Ahmad, while Nacho Fernandez, Nahitan Nandez and Abdulaziz Al-Elawai are questionable.

Preview · AFC Champions League
Editorial board · 25 October 2026 · Updated 2026-10-26 17:21 UTC

- Al Qadsiah v Al Sadd
- Kick-off: 2026-10-26 18:15 UTC
- Ground: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
- Status: Full time
- Score: Al Qadsiah 1 – 1 Al Sadd

Al Qadsiah return to Asian competition on a short turnaround, hosting Al Sadd just a couple of days after the 3-2 home defeat by Al Hilal that ended their 13-game unbeaten run and cost them top spot in the Saudi Pro League. Rodgers said afterwards that by the next day the club would forget about the result and move on to the next game.

Waleed Al-Ahmad is out for the home side. Nacho Fernandez is questionable with an ankle injury that kept him out of the Pakhtakor, Abha and Al-Taawoun games, and Nahitan Nandez and Abdulaziz Al-Elawai are also questionable. Al Sadd coach Razvan Lucescu has said he has injured players, without naming them, but has replacements of the same level for them. Neither Rodgers nor Lucescu has confirmed a line-up.

Al Qadsiah have four points from two games in the competition, after a 2-1 home win over Al Wasl and a 1-1 draw away to Pakhtakor, and beat Al-Taawoun 1-0 and Abha 2-1 in the league before the Al Hilal game. Al Sadd lost 0-2 at home to Al Hilal and 3-0 away to Esteghlal, leaving them 16th with no points and a goal difference of -5, though they beat Al Shahania 4-0 in the Qatar Stars League.

There are no recent meetings between the clubs to draw on, with Al Qadsiah in their first Champions League Elite campaign. Rodgers has reminded supporters that the club were in the second tier just two years ago. Al-Sharq lists the kick-off as Monday at 9:15pm Doha time, while the SAFF club page gives Tuesday 27-10-2026 at 21:15.

## Our call

Tired legs and a thin squad notwithstanding, Rodgers's side ought to have enough to beat an Al Sadd still without a point in Dammam, on a lively, high-scoring evening in which the visitors still find the net.

## Coming in

Al Qadsiah have 4 pts from 2 in the Champions League Elite and lost top spot in the Saudi Pro League with a 2-3 defeat by Al Hilal, their first loss in 14 games. Al Sadd are 16th with 0 pts from 2 after defeats by Al Hilal and Esteghlal, though they sit near the top of the Qatar Stars League.

## Between them

There are no recent meetings between the two clubs to draw on. Al Qadsiah are playing in their debut AFC Champions League Elite campaign.

## The hinge

If Nacho Fernandez recovers from his ankle injury in time to play, an Al Qadsiah win becomes likelier.

## Missing

Al Qadsiah are without Waleed Al-Ahmad, with Nacho Fernandez (ankle), Nahitan Nandez and Abdulaziz Al-Elawai questionable. Al Sadd have unnamed injured players.

## Line-ups

Al Qadsiah line up in a 3-5-2 without Nacho Fernandez, Nahitan Nandez or Abdulaziz Al-Elawai, none of whom is in the starting eleven or among the substitutes. Al Sadd start Akram Afif and Roberto Firmino in a 4-2-3-1.