Match snapshot and mood in Doha
Al-Ahli Doha welcome Sepahan to Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on 18/02/2026 for an intriguing second-leg tie in the AFC Champions League Two 8th Finals. The setting is impressive — a 44,400-capacity venue — and both sides arrive with plenty to prove after a roller-coaster of results in recent weeks. The teams met only days earlier in a 2-2 draw, a game that underlined how open and competitive this knockout clash can be. That February 11 meeting saw Sepahan lead at half-time before Al-Ahli fought back to salvage a draw; Erik Expósito grabbed headlines with an outstanding outing while Ricardo Alves earned praise for Sepahan.
Form, momentum and attacking fingerprints
Form lines tell a story of inconsistency for both coaches to solve. Al-Ahli’s recent sequence reads with more defeats than wins, but there is bite in their attack: they averaged 12.29 shots per match in the sample and have managed five goals on the road in that stretch. Sepahan, meanwhile, are busier in the final third — 111 total shots across their sample and 34 on target — and display more dangerous attacking numbers (75.4 dangerous attacks average versus Al-Ahli’s 54.14). Those figures suggest Sepahan are the more creative side, yet their results have been mixed, and defensive lapses have left them susceptible.
The head-to-head 2-2 stalemate is critical context. It proves both teams can find the net against each other under competitive conditions. Sepahan’s home games in this dataset produced BTTS on every occasion listed, and Al-Ahli’s away numbers show a 75% BTTS rate — patterns that point to goals on both ends when these teams meet.
Why this is shaping up as a goals game
Tactically, the duel looks tilted toward open play and end-to-end moments. Sepahan’s higher volumes of shots and dangerous attacks should create chances; Al-Ahli have shown they can reply, even when results go against them. Clean sheets are not abundant for either team in this snapshot, and both clubs recorded multiple recent fixtures with goals at both ends. The February 11 2-2 meeting is a recent blueprint: each side probed weaknesses and capitalized on chances.
For bettors focused on goal markets, timing and reading the flow of the game will be important. If you’re evaluating value in the goal market, consider how the teams performed in their last direct clash and the attacking numbers that favor open play.
For guidance on when to approach goal markets in a disciplined way, see this primer on the right time to place bets on goal markets. If you’re managing a tighter budget while exploring market opportunities, it’s worth revisiting strategies covered in the difficulties of having a small bankroll in betting to protect capital during knockout swings.
Betting suggestion Both teams scored in the recent 2-2 meeting, Sepahan’s fixtures showed a 100% BTTS rate at home in the sample and Al-Ahli’s away BTTS rate sits at 75% — the data points strongly favor goals at both ends. Suggestion: Goal market — Both Teams to Score (YES).
