In the round of 16 of the Asian Cup, the Al Sadd coach eliminated Al Hilal on penalties (Benzema’s mistake) to win the Italian derby against the former Inter coach. also winning the title in Qatar at the same time thanks to Shamal’s knockout
In the round of 16 of the Champions League Italian derby on the bench in Jeddah, Arabia: Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal hosted Roberto Mancini’s Al Sadd. And Mancio won on penalties 4-2, after the spectacular 3-3 in 120 minutes. The errors of the French Benzema and the 19 year old Bouabre decide. For Al Sadd only one mistake, that of the former Liverpool player Roberto Firmino, but the captain and international Afif decides. The match was immediately lively and hard-fought. The hosts scored with former Lazio player Milinkovic Savic in the 29th minute with an assist from former AC Milan player Theo Hernandez. Claudinho’s Al Sadd equalized in the 36th minute. Then in the second half a new Saudi lead and Inzaghiano with Salem Al Dawsari in the 10th minute following a pass from Ruben Neves. After 3′ another equalizer from Mujica, former Barça cantera, with 6 goals among the top scorers of the tournament. In the 32nd minute it was 3-2 by Marcos Leonardo for Al Hilal, with an assist from Benzema. Another 4′ and 3-3 from Roberto Firmino. We go to extra time with opportunities especially for Inzaghi’s Al Hilal, with the last chance for former Monza and Fiorentina player Pablo Mari. But Mancini wins. In the quarterfinals he will find the Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
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Meanwhile, Mancini won the Qatar scudetto because Shamal, 2nd in the standings -5 behind the former Italian coach, lost this evening on the penultimate matchday at home to Qatar SC (0-2) and therefore can no longer recover. For Mancini, who arrived at Al Sadd in November after being Arabia’s coach in 2023-24, it is the 15th title in charge. For the Doha club it is the 19th “scudetto”, the third in a row, as in 1987-89. Dragged by the strikers: the international Afif, 14 goals and 12 assists (the best in the championship), and the Brazilian ex-Liverpool Roberto Firmino with 12 goals.
