File picture of Lekhwiya head coach Michael Laudrup.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Lekhwiya coach Michael Laudrup is expecting an improved performance from the Qatari champions when they host Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia in their second Group A match in the AFC Champions League today.
The current Qatar Stars League table toppers conceded three second half goals to lose 3-0 in their opening game at Iranian club Persepolis last week.
And the defeat means Laudrup’s side are bottom of the group, a situation the Danish coach is keen to rectify.
“We aim to win the match against Al Nassr and make a good comeback following the defeat that we had against Persepolis,” said Lekhwiya coach Laudrup, who saw his team return to the top of the league standing after they defeated rivals Al Sadd 1-0 on Saturday.
“The match will be very hard though due to the good performances our opponents have shown so far.”
“The AFC Champions League is different from the local league and that is why I hope that our players will show a good performance. We must concentrate if we want to win against Al Nassr and hopefully we can get the three points.”
Defender Ahmed Yasser, who was substituted against Persepolis in the second-half in Tehran with an injury, remains in doubt for the meeting with Al Nassr.
In their AFC Champions League home opener last week, Al Nassr had to settle for a share of the points with visitors Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan as Zabikhillo Urinboev’s 13th minute opener for the Tashkent club was cancelled out by Fabian Estoyanoff’s leveller early in the second-half.
But on the domestic front, though, Al Nassr are looking to win consecutive league championships and, like Lekhwiya, sit top of their respective league table.
They were, however, forced to share a 1-1 draw with Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, and coach Jorge Da Silva is expecting another stern test for his side against Lekhwiya.
“The match will be very hard for us as we will be playing against a strong team and the two sides will be looking to achieve their first victory in the competition following Lekhwiya’s defeat and Al Nassr’s draw,” said Al Nassr coach Da Silva.
“We hope that we can have a great match and get back home with a positive result. Lekhwiya have good experienced players but our side prepared well and we have already forgotten the disappointing result in the first round.”
All eyes will be on Lekhwiya to see how they respond in this match.
