A clash in Doha with group stakes and open football on show
The fifth round of the West stage in the AFC Champions League Elite brings Al Duhail and Al Ittihad to Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Stadium on 24/11/2025, and it promises to be a high-octane affair. Al Duhail arrive with mixed domestic form and a Group position that belies some eye-catching attacking numbers at home: nine goals scored in their group home outings so far and a striking trend where every match has produced over 2.5 goals. Yet their recent rhythm in all competitions has been jagged — a 2-3 defeat to Al-Ahli Doha on 21 November underlined defensive vulnerabilities even when the forward line is lively enough to produce fireworks.
Al Ittihad head into Doha sitting slightly higher in the group, with six points from four matches and a more compact goals-against record overall. Their recent domestic win (2-1 over Al Riyadh on 21 November) and a superb individual display that night — Karim Benzema earned the best-player nod with an 8.15 rating — point to an away side that can be clinical. Across their last fixtures they have shown they can both score and be involved in open contests: a 4-4 draw earlier in November and a 3-0 win demonstrate the pendulum swings in their play.
Why goals look likely and what the numbers tell us
Numbers from both teams tilt the match toward entertainment. Al Duhail’s home data shows a 100% over-2.5 rate in recorded matches, while Al Ittihad’s fixtures have cleared that line 75% of the time. Both sides average healthy attack metrics and have been involved in recent matches with multiple goals — the most recent encounters of each club produced three or more goals. Defensive inconsistencies from Al Duhail combine with the firepower Al Ittihad have shown away to suggest this will not be a dour tactical scrap.
For bettors focusing on how and when to target goal markets, this fixture is exactly the kind of scenario flagged in best-practice guides: frequent goal-producing matches, recent high-scoring results, and teams that push forward rather than sit back. For background reading on timing and strategy around these wagers consider this primer on the right time to place bets on goal markets, and for a broader lens on match analysis try the piece on factors to be observed when analyzing sports betting.
Conclusion and betting suggestion Given the attacking profiles, recent scorelines and head-to-head history that previously swung in favour of Al Ittihad, the clearest value lies in the goals market rather than a straight 1X2 call. Recommended play: Over 2.5 goals. Rationale: both teams’ recent fixtures heavily favour over lines (home side 100%, away 75%), recent domestic matches produced multiple goals, and Al Duhail’s defensive lapses increase the probability of an open game. Stake responsibly and treat this pick as a goals-based play rather than a statement on the match winner.