Embed from Getty Images
Three remaining UAE sides of Al Wahda, Sharjah and Shabab Al-Ahli begin their campaign in the AFC Champions League this week.
Persepolis vs Al Wahda
The Red Giants get us underway when they face Iranian side Persepolis at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The hosts are experienced in this competition but having fallen out of the final stages twice in the last three years Yahya Golmohammadi’s side will look to go all the way.
Al Wahda showed great fight and attitude when they came back from a goal down to beat Al Zawaraa in the play-offs to get to this stage as they look to continue that momentum.
The Abu Dhabi side will be making their 12th appearance in the Asian Champions League as they look to come back stronger following their withdrawal of the tournament last season after members of the team contracted COVID-19.
The Iranian side head into the competition with high expectations as they regained their place back at the top of the table following their current unbeaten run of 11 games.
Meanwhile, Al Wahda have struggled for consistency this season, sitting eighth in the Arabian Gulf League, seven points off the top four with Champions League qualification looking extremely unlikely.
Persepolis striker Vahid Amiri missed last year’s final after he was suspended but he’s back for this season to give his side the extra boost.
Al Wahda star Omar Khribin doesn’t need any introduction for the visitors. The 2017 Player of the Year has proved himself on the big stage many times, previously winning this competition in 2019 with Saudi giants Al-Hilal.
The two sides have played each other four times, with Perspolis winning twice in 2017 and Al Wahda’s last victory coming back in 2011.
Sharjah vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
The Kings welcome Al Quwa Al-Jawiya who sit top of the Iraqi Premier League losing just once in their last five games.
Abdulaziz Al Yassi’s side will look to put end to their disappointing run of form, failing to win any of their last three games as they sit fourth in the Arabian Gulf League
The visitors come into this game with a slice of fortune after they edged Al-Wehda in the play-offs. Aymen Hussein scored in the last minute to equalise before the Falcons won on penalties to reach this stage.
One player who will be a key for the hosts is Igor Cornado. The midfielder has been a vital aspect, being involved in 52% of the goals scored by Sharjah this season, netting 15 and assisting seven in 23 appearances.
The former UAE Champions finished bottom of their group last season and will hope of not repeating that. They came closest to winning this competition in the 2004 but have since struggled.
This is the first-ever meeting between the sides as both teams look to kick start their campaign with a win.
Istiklol vs Shabab Al-Ahli
A 13-match unbeaten run has seen Mahdi Ali’s side rise up to third in the Arabian Gulf League. Shabab Al-Ahli have won two trophies this season with a recent victory against Al Nasr in a penalty shootout. This saw the UAE side win the League Cup and add to their Super Cup victory earlier in the season.
The visitors will take the field against Istiklol, the Champions of the Tagki League who will be making their debut in the Asian Champions League group stages after they were knocked out by Al Ahli last season in the play-off round.
A lot of talented players in the Red Knights’ team. Igor Jesus has been in superb form. The 20-year-old has 11 goals to his name and has been rumoured with multiple European clubs including Premier League side Everton who are in the hunt for the teenager.
The furthest Shabab Al-Ahli got in this competition was in 2015 when they were defeated by Guangzhou Evergrande in the Final and with the current form they are in, they will aim of going one step further.
This is the first meeting between both sides who are in superb form and will aim to win the Asian Champions League.