Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
On Monday, February 17, the final match of the eighth round of the AFC Champions League will take place, as Pakhtakor faces Al-Sadd. The game kicks off at 15:00 CET, and I offer a betting tip for this encounter.
Pakhtakor vs Al-Sadd: Match facts and head-to-head
- Pakhtakor is winless in its last five matches: four defeats and one draw.
- Al-Sadd is in strong away form, unbeaten in its last seven matches.
- Pakhtakor has failed to score in four of its last five games.
- Al-Sadd has scored in 12 consecutive away matches.
- Pakhtakor has conceded goals in both halves in 40% of its matches this season.
- Al-Sadd has lost only 5% of its matches this season without scoring.
- Historically, Al-Sadd and Pakhtakor have faced each other four times, with the Qatari side winning twice and the other two matches ending in draws.
Pakhtakor vs Al-Sadd: Match preview
Pakhtakor is enduring a poor run of form, failing to win any of its last five matches, with four defeats and a draw. In four of those games, they failed to find the net. However, despite this slump, they still have a chance to qualify for the AFC Champions League playoffs. In the previous round, they lost 0-1 but remain in contention. Currently, Pakhtakor has four points, trailing the eighth-place team by just two points. A victory in this match, combined with favorable results elsewhere, could see them progress to the knockout stage. However, they have yet to win a single match in the first seven rounds, making this task particularly challenging.
Al-Sadd, on the other hand, is in a much stronger position. The team has already secured a place in the playoffs, meaning this match is of little consequence for them. In the previous round, they lost to Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia but had previously beaten Al-Hilal and drawn with Al-Nassr. As a result, Al-Sadd has 12 points after seven rounds and is guaranteed to finish in the top five of the group stage standings. Although their recent form has been inconsistent, with three losses and two wins in their last five matches, their away record is significantly better. They are unbeaten in their last seven away fixtures and have scored in 12 consecutive road games.
Probable lineups
- Pakhtakor: Luis; Abdumajidov, Khamraliev, Abdullaev, Resan, Jonathan Lucca, Buriyev, Adhamzoda, Khamdamov, Flamarion, Sergeev.
- Al-Sadd: Barsham; Atal, Paulo Otávio, Tarek Salman, Saïss, Houhi, Claudinho, Camara, Guilherme, Akram Afif, Cristo González.
Prediction
Pakhtakor has more motivation in this match and will undoubtedly push for a win. However, Al-Sadd has the quality to exploit this and find the net. My bet is on Al-Sadd’s individual total over 1 goal at odds of 1.4.
