The home side were the first to have a look at goal in the seventh minute with Abdulaziz Hatem finding space in the centre, only to pull his effort from distance wide.

Al Ahli almost unlocked Al Rayyan’s defence two minutes later when Vega threaded a dangerous ball in for Mahrez, but Al Rayyan goalkeeper Paulo Victor foiled the Algerian.

Al Rayyan came under pressure in the 12th minute when Victor blocked Ivan Toney’s close range effort off Ali Majrashi’s cross, before Andre Amaro headed away Galeno’s attempt off the deflection.

The Qatar side wasted a chance to take the lead in the 23rd minute when Al Ahli custodian Edouard Mendy came off his line to clear the initial danger with Thiago Mendes then sending his effort agonisingly wide.

Mendy had to be on his toes again five minutes later when he parried away Roger Guedes’ stinging shot from inside the box before Al Ahli swung into action to take the lead in the 30th minute.

Roberto Firmino floated the ball into the six yard box, with Galeno, rising highest to nod home into the top right corner.

Disaster struck Al Rayyan four minutes later when goalkeeper Victor handled a back from Ameed Mahajneh in a goalmouth scramble, with Riyad Mahrez thumping his free-kick from inside the area into the top corner.

Firmino almost extended Al Ahli’s lead in the 58th minute but his shot from distance was saved by Victor, who denied the Brazilian again moments later from a tight angle.

Al Ahli opted to protect their lead with sporadic attacks, allowing Al Rayyan more of the ball but without much luck in front of goal.

Al Ahli thought they had restored their two-goal advantage 10 minutes later when Gabri Veiga struck off a rebound from a set-piece situation but his effort was ruled out following a VAR review.

Guedes came close to equalising in stoppage time when he received the ball inside the box, only to be stopped by the bar but Al Ahli squashed any hope of a revival with Al Brikan finishing off Galeno’s layoff following a counter-attacking move in the fifth minute of time added on. 

It got worse for Al Rayyan as Adam Bareiro was sent off for a lunge on Fahad Al Rashidi as they ended the match on a sour note and a mountain to climb in the return leg.