Al Nasr hope to bite into Sepahan in Asian Champions League opener

Abu Dhabi: High-flying Al Nasr are relishing the chance to savour “the sweet taste” of continental competition when they kick off their AFC Asian Champions League Group A campaign away to Iran’s Sepahan on Tuesday.

The buoyant Blue Wave are third in the Arabian Gulf League and are confident of emulating their fine domestic form and securing a victory over their Iranian league opponents, according to midfielder Mahmoud Khamis.

However, although Sepahan are struggling in 11th place in their league, they have beaten Al Nasr all four times they have played previously in the Dubai club’s only two appearances in the Asian Champions League in 2012 and 2013.

They were also 2007 ACL finalists, losing to Urawa Red Diamonds on aggregate, helping them qualify for the Fifa Club World Cup.

“We have had 1-0 and 3-0 defeats previously in this city [Esfahan], but this time we promise our fans that we will give everything to return with the points in the first step towards qualifying for the second round,” Khamis said on Monday, just days after Ivan Jovanovic’s men thrashed Al Shaab 5-1 at home in the AGL. “Of course, the Asian game has a special taste and special preparations are needed, as are a very high degree of concentration, and we look forward to presenting a good image of Emirati football.”

The other two teams in Group A, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, two-time winners of the competition, and Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv will play each other in Tashkent earlier on Tuesday.

Al Ittihad return to the tournament after a one-year absence after registering a 2-1 comeback win over Jordan’s Al Wehdat in the play-offs earlier this month.

And having recorded two semi-final and one quarter-final appearances in their last three outings in the ACL, having failed to qualify in 2013, Victor Piturca’s side will look to make a positive start in Group A at Lokomotiv Stadium against the Uzbek League runners-up.

In another intriguing tie, the Brazilian trio of Ramires, Alex Teixeira and Jo will make their continental bows for China’s Jiangsu FC after their high-profile and expensive January moves when they travel to Vietnam to play Becamex Binh Duong in Group E.

Al Nasr, who qualified for the ACL by virtue of winning the 2015 President’s Cup and whose game on Tuesday kicks off at 7pm UAE time, are flying the flag for the UAE in the tournament alongside Arabian Gulf League rivals Al Ain and Al Nasr.

Al Ain, who secured qualification thanks to being 2015 AGL champions, begin their Group D campaign at home to Qatar’s El Jaish at 7pm on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, at 4.30pm, Al Jazira are in action away to Azerbaijan outfit Tractor Sazi in Group C. The Pride of Abu Dhabi reached the group stage after beating Xavi Hernandez’s Al Sadd side 5-4 on penalties after extra time earlier this month in a one-game play-off at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium.

AFC Asian Champions League

Tuesday’s games

(All times UAE)

Group A

Lokomotiv (UZB) vs Al Ittihad (KSA), 2pm

Sepahan (IRN) vs Al Nasr (UAE), 7pm

Group B

Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Zobahan (IRN), 7.15pm

Al Nassr (KSA) vs Bunyodkor (UZB), 9.15pm

Group E

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs FC Tokyo, 2pm

Becamex Binh Duong (VIE) vs Jiangsu FC (CHN), 2pm