A masterclass in clinical finishing! On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Al-Ittihad closed out the AFC Champions League Elite group stage with a dominant 4–1 victory over Al Sadd at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
While Roberto Mancini’s Al Sadd technically "scraped through" to the Round of 16 thanks to results elsewhere, the night belonged to the Saudi "Tigers," who put on a show of continental strength.
The Match Breakdown: Clinical Tigers
10’ - Aouar Opens the Floodgates 🇩🇿: After an early Al Sadd goal by Roberto Firmino was ruled out for offside, Al-Ittihad struck. Houssem Aouar pounced on a rebound to slam the ball into the top corner. 0–1.
18’ - En-Nesyri’s Precision 🇲🇦: The lead was doubled just minutes later. Youssef En-Nesyri latched onto a brilliant long ball, burst through the defense, and slotted it through the keeper’s legs. 0–2.
33’ - Own Goal Agony 📉: Al Sadd’s night went from bad to worse when a dangerous cross was accidentally turned into his own net by Pedro Miguel. 0–3.
38’ - A Lifeline for Al Sadd 🇪🇸: Rafa Mújica gave the home fans a glimmer of hope just before the break, finishing off a slick pass from Firmino. 1–3.
63’ - The Final Blow 🧱: Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Stephane Keller hammered home from close range following a set-piece scramble. 1–4.
The Verdict: Al-Ittihad proved they are arguably the most dangerous team in the competition when they find their rhythm. For Al Sadd, the relief of qualification is heavy, but Mancini has massive defensive questions to answer before they face Al Hilal in March.