DOHA: Qatar's Al-Arabi will take on Kuwait's Al-Qadisiyah at Al-Thumama Stadium on Wednesday, marking the opening clash of Group Two in the Gulf Club Champions League. The tournament, organized by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), will run until April 15.

In a concurrent match, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq will square off against Bahrain’s Al-Riffa.

The tournament features eight participating clubs: Qatar’s Al-Arabi, UAE’s Al-Nasr, Bahrain’s Al-Riffa, Kuwait’s Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq, Yemen’s Al-Ahli Sana’a, Oman’s Dhofar, and Iraq’s Dohuk.

Al-Arabi enters the competition aiming to rebound from a disappointing run in the Ooredoo Stars League, with just one win in seven rounds. Head coach Anthony Hudson is relying on a strong midfield, featuring former Paris Saint-Germain player Marco Verratti, ex-Real Betis star Rodri, Jordanian international Yazan Al-Naimat, and Syrian striker Omar Al-Somah.

Al-Qadisiyah, a two-time Gulf Club Champions League winner, seeks to put up a solid performance despite a challenging task ahead. The team sits fifth in the Kuwaiti league with 10 points. Coach Zeljko Petrovic is counting on the experience of veteran captain Bader Al-Mutawa, goalkeeper Khaled Al-Rashidi, Moroccan forward Ismail Khafi, and Libyan striker Mohamed Soula.

Al-Arabi coach Hudson expressed optimism about the opening match, emphasizing the importance of a strong start in the challenging group, which also includes Al-Ettifaq and Al-Riffa. "We are ready for the match, and our goal is to recover from our recent setback in the Qatar Stars League," he said. Hudson acknowledged the strength of Al-Qadisiyah and the need for focused play to secure victory.

Midfielder Luis Martin echoed the coach's sentiments, expressing confidence in Al-Arabi's ability to achieve a positive result against a tough opponent. He stressed the significance of concentration and the advantage of having experienced players on the squad.

The tournament draw placed Al-Arabi at the top of Group Two, alongside Al-Ettifaq, Al-Riffa, and Al-Qadisiyah. Group One is led by Iraq’s Dohuk, featuring Al-Nasr of the UAE, Oman’s Dhofar, and Yemen’s Al-Ahli Sana’a.