Al Rayyan players during a training session, yesterday.
Qatar's Al Rayyan SC and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol will be aiming to kickstart their respective AFC Champions League 2022 Group A campaigns on a positive note when they clash at the King Fahd International Stadium today.
Nicolas Cordova is hoping his Al Rayyan team will put their disappointing ACL 2021 behind them when they face their first Group A test today.
“We are confident of putting in a good performance against the Tajikistan side,” said Cordova, whose side failed to see past the group stage in the previous edition.
“We know we are facing a tough contest in this group with Al Hilal in the mix but we are confident of sealing the three points on Friday.”
Al Rayyan, who will be without Iranian Shojae Khalilzadeh marshalling the defence, can take comfort that the likes of Yacine Brahimi, Yohan Boli and James Rodriguez are ready to compete.
“Despite finishing eighth in our domestic league in Qatar, we are here to compete and to play and perform to the best of our abilities. Some of the players are young but they are motivated and are trying their best to prove themselves.”
Istiklol, the 10-time Tajikistan champions, are targeting to better their 2021 achievement of reaching the Round of 16 in their debut appearance in the continental showpiece, while Al Rayyan will be desperate to improve on the two points they earned last time around.
“I’m pleased with how the team has settled here in Riyadh. We are ready for the opening match and we are eager to show our best performance,” said Istiklol head coach Mubin Ergashev. “There are big clubs in this group but that shouldn’t derail our target which is to improve on last year’s achievement.
“Every team in this group are considered tough opponents, especially Al Hilal and we must learn to adapt quickly. Even though our team has changed since the last time we competed in this competition, we still have a fighting chance to prove we can compete at the highest level.”
Talismanic forward Manuchekhr Dzhalilov will be the main attacking threat for Istiklol, with Gabonese Eric Bocoum, Rustam Soirov and Shervoni Mabatshoev providing support as Ergashev hopes the club can repeat the same performance that saw them defeat Al Hilal 4-1 last year.
“Almost 70 percent of last year’s team has changed, however, I do believe that Istiklol have what it takes to earn the three points against the Qatari side.”
