Lekhwiya coach Michael Laudrup addresses the media ahead of his team's Asian Champions League match against Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor today.
Agencies/Doha/Tashkent
Lekhwiya take on Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in the Asian Champions League in Doha today knowing full well that only a victory would do them any good if they are to progress to the last 16 with ease.
The top Qatar side have been in some strife of late, having failed to seal the Qatar Stars League title for the fourth time last week after a shock 3-3 draw with relegation-threatened Al Shahaniya left them with a few more days of anxiety.
That setback also opened a small window of opportunity for Al Sadd who can now gatecrash Lekhwiya’s party if they fail to win their remaining two matches.
Lekhwiya have also had an indifferent start in the lucrative Asian tournament, having won only one of their three matches so far, leaving them struggling in third place with just four points behind Iran’s Persepolis and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.
Understandably, there was too much on coach Michael Laudrup’s mind as he addressed a press conference on the eve of his team’s clash against Bunyodkor, who Lekhwiya had beaten 1-0 in the first leg.
“It’s a crucial match for us,” the Dane said. “We need to a win to ease our path to the next phase of the tournament.”
However, Lekhwiya are boosted by the return of striker Sebastian Soria who missed the team's last ACL match with an injury.
Bunyodkor are at the bottom of the table with just one point from three matches with virtually no chance of making the last 16, but would want to prove a point.
Coach Sergey Lushchan said as much yesterday. “They beat us in Uzbekistan, we hope to beat them in Doha,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd coach Hussain Ammouta has injury concerns ahead of his team’s clash with Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv in Tashkent.
Defender Ibrahim Majed and midfield duo Talal Al Bloushi and Jasser Medany are set to miss the tie for the unbeaten Group C leaders, who could qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare with victory today.
“I expect an interesting and difficult match. Lokomotiv still have a chance to qualify to the Round 16 and they will try to show their best on the field. We also want to reach a victory,” said Ammouta, with his side currently three points clear at the top of Group C while also still in the hunt for domestic honours heading into the final two games of the Qatar Stars League season.
“We give attention to the Qatar championship and AFC Champions League together. We have two more games in championship and we will continue to battle for the first place until the last chance. Our management wants us to have good results on the international scene also.
“Lokomotiv is a good team. I watched many games of Lokomotiv and I have a positive impression.”
Coach Vadim Abramov has demanded a response from Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv following last month’s 6-2 defeat by the Qatari side in Doha.
Continental debutants Lokomotiv have picked up just one point at the halfway stage in Group C and suffered a second defeat of the campaign last month as 2011 champions Al Sadd eased to a comfortable victory three weeks ago in Doha.
Lokomotiv are just three points behind second place Al Hilal with three games remaining, although the suspension of forward Salim Mustafaev and injury doubts hanging over Serbian defender Nemanja Janicic and midfielders Jasur Khasanov, 31, and Oleg Zoteev have hampered Abramov’s preparations ahead of the meeting at Lokomotiv Stadium.
“We will play against good opponent and we will try to collect three points. We want to show we can play football, attacking football. Our aim is victory, this is the most important. If we can win, the players will begin to play well in the next matches,” said Lokomotiv coach Abramov who saw his side draw 1-1 with Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan last time at home in the AFC Champions League.