Al Gharafa’s coach Bulent Uygun speaks to his players and coaching staff during a training session on the eve of their AFC Champions League clash against UAE’s Al Jazira yesterday.
Doha: Qatar’s Al Gharafa take on visiting Al Jazira in their AFC Champions League encounter in Doha today.
The Group A fixture will be vital for the home team, having lost the previous clash against the Abu Dhabi club on Emirati soil.
Al Jazira claimed a 3-2 but they have not won since, while their Wesley Sneijder-led Al Gharafa are flying high, having stormed into the top four of the QNB Stars League before winning one match and drawing two in Asia’s top club football tournament.
Mehdi Taremi netted for Al Gharafa in their 1-1 draw with Group A leaders Al Ahli three weeks ago, when Al Jazira also ended 1-1 with Tractorsazi Tabriz in a game that saw Brazilian Romarinho score his second of the campaign.
The hosts have won all five of their home games on the continent against Emirati opposition, while the visitors have not won in nine AFC Champions League matches on the road.
Al Jazira welcome Ali Mabkhout, Mohamed Jamal and Mohamed Al Hashmi back from suspension, but Khalfan Mubarak is serving a one-game ban.
Meanwhile, in Isfahan, Iran, Zobahan will be up for a challenge against the Qatari champions Al Duhail but will be looking to impress in front of home crowd at Foolad Shahr Stadium today.
When the sides met on Matchday One in Doha, Zobahan took the lead but Al Duhail scored thrice in the last 20 minutes to get their campaign off to a winning start.
A lDuhail did not stop there and went onto cruise towards the knockout stage with back to back wins.
Youssef El Arabi scored two late goals – his third brace in a row – when the Qatari side clinched knockout stage qualification with a 2-1 victory at Lokomotiv in what was their fourth successive win.
Currently second in the standings behind Al Duhail, Zobahan have won two from two at home but have lost both their games on the road and go into the clash with the Qatari giants on the back of a 3-0 away defeat to Al Wahda.
