AFC Champions League: Al Sadd Play Al Nasr, Al Rayyan Face Zobahan

Doha, April 19 (QNA) - Qatar s Al Sadd would hope to enter the pre-quarter-finals when they meet Group 'B' rivals Al Nasr of Saudi Arabia in the AFC Champions League match Tuesday.
A victory today will take Al Sadd, who currently lead the group with seven points from Esteghlal of Iran and Al Nasr - both have four, into the knock-out stage.
Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor, who host today's return leg match against Esteghlal, are at the bottom on one point, the Gulf Times reported today.
Jorge Fossati's team will be without Wesam Rizik and Nadir Belhadj who were suspended for the match after receiving their second yellow cards in the last match that Al Sadd won, 1-0, at home.
The Saudi side will also be missing the services of Ahmed Al Dosari and Mohammed Al Bishi through suspension.
Also in action today are Al Rayyan who will be away to Zobahan in Group 'D'.
At the bottom of the pile with one point, Al Rayyan desperately need a win to stay afloat in the competition.
Al Gharafa had lost 2-0 away to Foolad Mobarekeh Sepahan in the first leg and Al Rayyan even worse going down, 3-1, to their rivals at home.
Al Rayyan boss Paulo Autuori did not attempt to play down the importance of the encounter to his side.
"It's obvious we will be knocked out of the tournament if we lose. That s why we are only focusing on getting maximum points from the game tomorrow," he told AFC's official website yesterday.
"My team's age average is only 20 which means we have young and powerful lads who can run much more than Zob Ahan s players and that s an advantage for us. What we want from Tuesday's clash is merely a win and fortunately, we have got enough motivation for that."
Al Rayyan go into the clash having finished the Qatar Stars League season on a high note with victory over champions Lekhwiya.
Autuori, though, insisted that would have no bearing against Zobahan.
"A victory in Qatar's domestic league has nothing to do with the game because on Tuesday the competition and opponents will be different," he added.
"Our recent win at home can boost our morale to play Zobahan. I can't make any evaluations about our group, I'd rather make predictions only after the match."
But Zobahan boss Mansour Ebrahimzadeh is not counting Al Rayyan out yet, urging his men to keep their feet on the ground.
"The AFC Champions League has its own special circumstances and we should do our best to reach the goal we are aiming at," he told AFC's official website. "Since we were runners-up in the previous edition all teams play against us with extra incentive.
"We should be cautious not to underestimate the Qataris. Winning the first leg match away in Qatar is no reason to think that we can defeat them again at home, unless we play at our full capacity and strength. I hope we can follow the same path as we did in Qatar.
"This is the very last chance for Al Rayyan to survive in the continental tournament, so they ll be doing their best to get some points from this match." (END)