Abu Dhabi: The ‘Pride of Abu Dhabi’ Al Jazira will be looking to get back to winning ways and consolidate their position in Group A of the AFC Champions League when they take on Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday. The action starts at 7pm.

Al Jazira started their campaign in the continental showpiece event by edging Qatar’s Al Gharafa in a five-goal thriller but lost their away fixture to group leaders Al Ahli of Saudi 2-1.

Coach Henk ten Cate is well aware that any slip-up will be a blow to his side’s aspiration in the tournament and asserted his team is ready to give their best against bottom placed Tractorsazi.

“Very important match for both teams. For us, it is an important match to keep fighting for the top spot in the group and for them to stay in the tournament,” said ten Cate adding, “They are a good team and I saw both their games. Especially, in Qatar they played well and also we lost a match. It is going to be an interesting match and we will have to give our best.”

Al Jazira’s ace striker Ali Mabkhout has been in fine form so far in the tournament and his goal in the lost cause against Al Ahli has swelled his combined AFC Champions League tally to 12.

Al Jazira fans will be hoping that Mabkhout would continue in the same vein in the contest. Coach ten Cate, though sounded confident, has some major worries in the mid-field with Moroccan Mbark Boussoufa not available for selection. Boussoufa is serving a one-match suspension following his second yellow card of the group stage against Al Ahli.

“We have missed important players in important matches, so nothing new. I have confidence in the players I have. I’m sure they will give their best,” said Ten Cate, whose team’s form in the local league has been way below par from what it was when the won the title last season. They suffered another loss last week, 2-1 away at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and remain on fifth spot, 16 points behind leaders Al Ain.

Al Jazira’s promising youngster Ahmad Al Attas brushed aside that his team’s sole focus now was on the Champions League.

“We all play to do well in all the matches we figure in. Sometimes, we are not lucky but our focus is to do well. We want to do well tomorrow as well and all are keen to get those three points,” asserted Al Attas, whose side have played Tractorsazi previously twice at home and the record had been even stevens. Al Jazira won the first contest 2-0 in 2013 but lost to a solitary goal in 2016.

Tractorsazi, on the other hand, is yet to register either a goal or a point in this edition, with successive defeats leaving the Iranian side struggling at the bottom.

They had reached the round of 16 last season but failed to progress beyond the group stage on three other occasions. “In our previous games, we played really well and had chances to score. In eight days, we have got two matches against Al Jazira and we have to play well and we need as many points as possible in order to qualify for the next round. I’m aiming at least four points from these two outings,” said coach Ertuğrul Sağlam adding that, he and his wards are well aware of Al Jazira’s strengths and weakness.

“Al Jazira is a strong club and a have nice team. They are playing at home so they want to win the match. I really hope it will be a nice match with high quality football,” said Sağlam, who will be missing the services of Mohammad Iranpourian. The defender picked up his second yellow card in the last match against Qatar’s Al Gharafa.

“Iranpourian will be missed but without him we will try to do our best. We really hope we have a nice game here and in the return leg as well,” felt Sağlam.

Mid-fielder Reza Sharbati speaking ahead of the contest said, “The two previous game we should have lost the matches as we had scoring opportunities. Statistically, we were up there in both the contests. Our coach said we have to forget about the first two matches and we are looking forward to do well here.”

Meanwhile, Al Wasl has landed in Tehran to take on second-placed Persepolis at the Azadi Stadium home in their Group C away fixture.

Al Wasl have suffered narrow defeat against Al Sadd and Nasaf in their first two matches.

Last year’s UAE Pro League runners-up, whose Brazilian striker Caio is a major injury doubt, are in the midst of only their second-ever AFC Champions League campaign, and will be well aware that a positive result against Persepolis is a must to stay afloat and avoid risking a repeat of their 2008 group stage exit.

Persepolis, on the other hand, lost to Qatar’s Al Sadd following their win over Nasaf. A three-point at home will allow them to battle for top spot in the table with Al Sadd, who have won both their matches.

Persepolis have only lost three of their previous 20 homes games in the AFC Champions League. They have drawn seven and won 10 — a figure which includes their comfortable 3-0 victory over Nasaf in opener. They have also yet to lose at home to a side from the UAE, winning three times and drawing once against Emirati opponents.