Dubai: Al Ahli can take outright control of their Asian Champions League (ACL) group with victory away to Iran’s Esteghlal from 7.45pm UAE time on Tuesday.
The Red Knights are currently top of Group A, level on seven points but separated on head-to-head with Esteghlal, who they beat 2-1 at home in February.
Both sides are three points clear of Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun and Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent, with two games remaining.
Victory or a draw would leave the 2015 losing ACL finalists in a prime position to secure qualification to the Last 16 going into May 9’s final group game at home to Lokomotiv. Whereas defeat for Al Ahli and victory for one of either Lokomotiv or Al Taawoun in their penultimate group game together in Tashkent on Tuesday, would leave Cosmin Olaroiu’s side in a battle for second going into the last game.
Al Ahli, who are second in the UAE league, come into this game unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions, having won the last two games, whereas Esteghlal, who are third in the Iranian league, are also unbeaten in seven across all competitions and come in off the back of a draw.
Elsewhere, fellow UAE-side Al Jazira take on Qatar’s Al Lekhwiya at home from 8.00pm UAE time on Tuesday.
The UAE league leaders are bottom of Group B on a point and are all but out of the competition, six points short of a necessary second place finish with two games remaining.
Al Lekhwiya top the group on eight points, one point clear of second-placed Esteghlal Khuzestan of Iran and three points clear of third-placed Al Fateh of Saudi Arabia.
Al Jazira’s fate will be sealed regardless of their result against Lekhwiya if second-placed Esteghlal Khuzestan so much as draw away to Al Fateh on Tuesday.
Henk ten Cate’s side also come into this fixture off the back of two losses across all competitions, whereas Al Lekhwiya come into this game off the back of a loss, but before that they had beaten Al Jazira 3-0 in Qatar, giving Al Jazira little hope of progression.
