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Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad live stream, watch Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad, live streaming Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad, watch online Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad
Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad live stream, watch Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad, live streaming Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad, watch online Zob Ahan vs Al Ittihad
This week’s penultimate AFC Champions League round sees a host of teams in sight of qualification and aiming to join the quartet of Seongnam Ilhwa, Kashima Antlers, Jeonbuk Motors and Suwon Bluewings in the last 16. Zob Ahan, Al Hilal, Gamba Osaka, Pohang Steelers and Adelaide United are the closest to progression, with a draw enough to advance with a match to spare. A win at home will see Esteghlal and Al Ittihad through but three points are not enough for Al Gharafa, Pakhtakor, Al Shabab and Beijing Guoan, who need not only wins, but also other results to go their way if they are to advance.
The matchAl Ittihad (KSA)-Bunyodkor (UZB)
Group B’s two big names enter their rematch having endured contrasting fortunes since their first meeting in February. Two back-to-back wins over Al Wahda revived Al Ittihad’s campaign with the Jeddah giants on the verge of qualification. Bunyodkor, for their part, slipped from group pace-setters to strugglers following a pair of stunning losses to Iran’s Zob Ahan. A home win is enough to send Enzo Trossero’s charges through while Luiz Felipe Scolari’s visitors face a must-win scenario.
Group B’s two big names enter their rematch having endured contrasting fortunes since their first meeting in February. Two back-to-back wins over Al Wahda revived Al Ittihad’s campaign with the Jeddah giants on the verge of qualification. Bunyodkor, for their part, slipped from group pace-setters to strugglers following a pair of stunning losses to Iran’s Zob Ahan. A home win is enough to send Enzo Trossero’s charges through while Luiz Felipe Scolari’s visitors face a must-win scenario.
Adding to Scolari’s headache is the absence of playmaker Rivaldo due to suspension. The task of pulling the creative strings, therefore, falls to AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov, who excelled in their recent 4-0 win over Lokomotiv in the domestic competition. On the opposite side, Trossero can field a full-strength team spearheaded by the talismanic Mohammed Noor. Playing in front of their fervent fans, the two-time Asian champions will be confident as they look to avenge their 3-0 humiliation against the Uzbeks.
The other headliners
Group A leaders Esteghlal are not in winning form going into the return leg against Al Ahli, having lost their latest domestic battle to Saba Battery 2-1. However, the home side will be inspired by the free-scoring Farhad Majidi, who completed a brace in their 2-1 win in the previous meeting between the pair. Maximum points will ensure the Iranians progress with such a scoreline also benefiting Al Gharafa, who can claim second spot should they defeat Al Jazira.
Group A leaders Esteghlal are not in winning form going into the return leg against Al Ahli, having lost their latest domestic battle to Saba Battery 2-1. However, the home side will be inspired by the free-scoring Farhad Majidi, who completed a brace in their 2-1 win in the previous meeting between the pair. Maximum points will ensure the Iranians progress with such a scoreline also benefiting Al Gharafa, who can claim second spot should they defeat Al Jazira.
All four teams Group C teams have a chance to qualify with just three points separating the top and bottom sides. However frontrunners Al Shabab and second-placed Pakhtakor can both advance from their section should they prevail against Sepahan and Al Ain respectively.
Group D’s runaway leaders Al Hilal entertain the second-placed Al Sadd knowing that just a single point will propel them through. Although the home side are the clear-cut favourites with a 3-0 away win in the previous encounter, the visitors’ confidence is boosted following their recent 2-0 win over Al Khor in the Qatari league. The other match pits bottom side Al Ahli and Mes Kerman, who both desperately need to claim three points if they are to make inroads into the top two.
With Changchun Yatai out and both Shandong Luneng and Henan Jianye on the brink of elimination, Group E’s Beijing Guoan look the only Chinese team left with realistic hopes of progression. A solitary-goal win over Changchun on Sunday came as a timely boost for the capital club ahead of their meeting with hosts Melbourne Victory. Should Beijing register a third win and Kawasaki Frontale fail to beat the already-qualified Seongnam in the other match, the Chinese champions will go through.
Elsewhere, the situation in Group G is clear with a home draw against Suwon Bluewings enough to seal the progression of 2008 champions Gamba Osaka. Meanwhile, Group H’s joint leaders Pohang Steelers and Adelaide United square off in a fascinating tie where a draw will suit both sides, rendering the result between Shandong Luneng and Sanfrecce Hiroshima meaningless.
Player to watchMohammed Noor has proved he can turn the tide when it matters. Having helped steer Al Ittihad to two Asian titles in 2004 and 2005, he was again in the centre of the team’s back-to-back wins over Al Wahda. His drive from the midfield and finishing touches will be the key for his team against Bunyodkor.
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