Al-Shabab won its qualification and lead the group since the last round when it swept Mumbai (6-0), raising its score to 13 points, while Al-Jazira lost the opportunity to compete officially following losing to the Iraqi Air Force, and its score froze at 4 points. For its part, Saudi Al-Taawoun is looking for the three points in the hope of qualifying for the next round, when it meets Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor at the same time at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, at the end of the fourth group competitions. Qatar’s Al Duhail was in the first card and the group lead with 12 points, while Al Taawun remained second with 7 points, while Pakhtakor occupies the last place with 3 points.
As for the Emirati Al-Ahly youth, they will enter their match today (23:15 Beirut time) with the Iranian Foulath of Khuzestan, with the ambition of winning and stripping their opponent from the top of the third group and accompanying them to the second round. Foulath, whose rise officially secured the standings, leads the standings with 11 points (at least as one of the three best teams in the five groups of West Asia that occupies second place), two points ahead of Al-Ahly’s second Shabab, who also has the chance to qualify among the top three teams occupying the runners-up or as leaders if they win.
In turn, the defending champion Saudi Al Hilal is looking for its fifth victory when it faces the Qatari Al Rayyan tomorrow, Wednesday, at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, at the end of the first group competitions. The two teams enter the match with different ambitions, as Al Hilal secured qualification before two rounds, and the group lead at the end of the last round, while Al Rayyan needs to win to qualify as one of the top three teams occupying second place. Al Hilal is in the lead with 13 points, from 4 victories and one draw, while Al Rayyan is in second place with 10 points from 3 victories, a draw and a loss. Al Hilal has historically surpassed its Qatari counterpart, as they met 10 times in various tournaments. Al Hilal won 6 matches, Al Rayyan in one, and the tie settled 3 matches. Al Zaeem’s attack scored 20 goals, while Al Raheeb’s attack scored 11 goals.
Although Al Hilal qualified and took the lead in the group, it seeks to win to maintain its unbeaten record.
It is expected that Al Hilal coach, Ramon Dias, the Argentine, will make several changes to the squad in order to give the opportunity to some players who did not participate mainly in most of the past matches. As for Al-Rayyan, who won an important victory over Istiklal of Tajikistan at the deadly time, he will enter the match with full force in search of a victory to accompany Al-Hilal to the second round, or a draw in the hope that the results of the rest of the groups will serve him.
And the Saudi Al-Faisaly must overcome the obstacle of the Qatari Al-Sadd, to book a ticket to the final price of the Asian Champions League in his first appearance.
Al-Faisaly leads the group with 9 points, and continued his career as the best start for a Saudi team in the tournament with his first participation, as he maintained his record without losses, recording two wins and 3 draws, while Al-Sadd occupies the last place with 4 points.
The second Uzbek Nasaf (8 points) will meet the third Jordanian unit (5 points).
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