Abu Dhabi: Former champions Al Ain and debutants Emirates will be involved in crucial AFC Champions League (ACL) matches Tuesday night as they battle to advance to the next round of the continental clubs' event.
Winners in 2003 and runners-up in 2005 Al Ain take on China's Hangzhou Greenland in a match which they will have to win to keep their hopes alive of making it to the knockout round of 16.
A two-week away assignment when they first held Hangzhou 0-0 but a week later lost 4-0 to Grampus Nagoya has left Al Ain with just one point from three games after having lost their opener to FC Seoul.
FC Seoul lead Group F with seven points, Hangzhou and Nagoya Grampus have four so Al Ain will have to win.
In Group C, Ras Al Khaimah's Emirates have been the only UAE club to have posted a win so far in three rounds of action with the UAE giants Al Wahda, Al Jazira and Al Ain yet to score a win.
Emirates host Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab and the UAE club, who are third in Group C, will be looking to win and move into second place behind last year's runners-up Zobahan.
Emirates have three points having posted their biggest win when they beat Qatar's Al Rayyan at home and with a partisan crowd backing them the UAE First Division side will be looking to upset Al Shabab who are unbeaten with a win and two draws. Al Rayyan are at the bottom with one point.
Important tie
At yesterday's press conference, Al Ain coach Alexandre Gallo said his team was ready for what he termed as a very important match.
"This is our last chance to qualify so we will be going all out to win," said Gallo, whose side beat Al Wahda 2-0 after their return from their 0-0 draw with Hangzhou.
"We have to win and we will play an offensive game. But the Chinese players are very fast and dangerous. So we will also have to strike a balance between our offence and defence," said the Brazilian.
Lamenting his players' inability to strike when well placed, Gallo said that his team was concentrating on this weakness.
"Every day, day after day we have been trying to fix this problem. Hopefully, we will find form as this is a chance for us to win and try and qualify for the next stage," he said.
Former UAE national team goalkeeper Waleed Salem, who has been out of action due to injury, said he was fit and looking to get back and play.
"I am ready and waiting for a call from my coach. We do have a good side and all players have been fighting hard," he said, adding that there were no "youngsters" in the squad.
"Once a player gets selected to play for our first team they are no longer small players. Most of the current crop of players have played for nearly two years now and they are all experienced," he said, adding that his side needed some luck.
"We have been unlucky and can do with some luck and some support from our fans tomorrow," Salem said.
Fixtures Tuesday:
Al Ain vs Hangzhou Greentown, 7.30pm, Al Qattara Stadium, Al Ain.
Emirates Club vs Al Shabab (KSA), 7.30 pm, Emirates Club Stadium, RAK
