Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira and Bani Yas are raring to go for their second matches in the AFC Champions League today and in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with hopes to continue their positive start to the campaign.
Al Jazira, competing in Group A with Nasfa (Uzbekistan), Estighlal (Iran) and Al Rayyan (Qatar) lead the group after beating Nasaf away 4-2 in the opener followed by Estighlal, also with three points, after defeating Al Rayyan with a single goal.
Al Jazira will play at home against Al Rayyan, who arrived on Sunday and started training in the UAE capital. The match will kick off at 7.30pm at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium but the team's new Brazilian coach, Caio Junior will have to watch his team from the stands as he is under suspension from the AFC — something he picked up as coach of Al Gharafa in Qatar and still has three matches to serve.
Ebrahima Diaky, the team's captain, and Juma Abdullah, the central defender will return to the line-up in the match after missing the team's last matches serving domestic suspension but right full back Khalid Sabeel will be doubtful to take part tonight.
Lost opener
Meanwhile, Bani Yas arrived to Tashkent in cold and snowy weather on Sunday and started preparing for their crucial away match against Pakhtakor in Group B which also features Al Arabi from Qatar and Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia.
Pakhtakor lost their opener against Al Itthad 4-0 in Jeddah and will fight fiercely to win this match to return to the competition because a second defeat will further dim their chances of reaching the second round.
Bani Yas share the leadership of the group with Al Ittihad after beating Al Arabi 2-0 but they will miss the services of their Spaniard midfielder Francesco Yeste and Amer Abdul Rahman, the UAE's dynamic midfielder whose injury kept him away from the UAE Oympic team's historic victory in Uzbekistan last week.
‘Psychological support'
"I am ready if the team needs me but the final decision rests with the coach and the team doctor," Abdul Rahman told Gulf News before leaving yesterday for Tashkent on a private jet.
"I hope to add psychological support to my colleagues even if I didn't play."
Gabriel Calderon, the team's coach, took the two players to Tashkent hoping for their fast recovery.
