Al Gharafa will be aiming to make a faster start to their AFC Champions League Elite campaign when they host Esteghlal on Monday at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, with Pedro Martins urging his side to cut out the errors that hurt them in their opening defeat.
The match is part of a busy week for Qatari clubs in the expanded competition, with three Qatar teams in action across the East and West zones. Al Shamal face Tractor FC in Muscat on Monday, while Al Sadd are scheduled to meet Al Hilal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
Pedro Martins wants a cleaner performance
Martins has made it clear that Al Gharafa have spent time addressing the problems that have affected their form since the start of the season. As he put it: "We have worked on addressing the individual and collective errors that have plagued the team’s performance since the start of the season, and we aim to regain our usual form in the upcoming matches."
That is the right message at this stage. Al Gharafa are not short of experience or quality, but after losing their opening game they now need a response that shows they can handle the demands of this format.
What the new format means for Qatar
This season’s AFC Champions League Elite has grown from 24 to 32 clubs, split between East and West. For Qatari football, that matters because the country now has three direct qualification slots, up from two direct slots and one playoff place in the previous edition.
That gives the Qatar Stars League greater visibility, but it also raises the standard. Each club is now expected to compete in a deeper competition across a longer route, and that means early results carry real weight.
Al Shamal’s presence is notable for another reason. They are debutants at this level after finishing runners-up in the 2025-26 Qatar Stars League, and their meeting with Tractor FC in Muscat adds another layer to a matchday that underlines Qatar’s growing presence in the tournament.
Al Gharafa need a sharper edge
The opening numbers from Al Gharafa’s last outing showed a side still searching for rhythm. Seven shots, only one on target, tells its own story. It was not simply about losing; it was about not doing enough in the key moments to turn pressure into a meaningful threat.
Against Esteghlal, that has to improve. A home match in the AFC Champions League Elite gives Al Gharafa the chance to steady themselves, but only if the attacking play becomes more efficient and the team shape is more reliable without the ball.
The broader picture is positive for Qatar, with three clubs represented across Monday and Tuesday. But for Al Gharafa, the focus is immediate: recover quickly, produce a cleaner performance, and make sure the opening defeat does not become a deeper issue.
