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Al Jazira seek to retain leadership and Al Shabab try to heal their Asian wounds

The four UAE Football Teams Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Bani Yas and Al Shabab will go into crucial matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 3rd and 4th of April in the third round of the Asian Championship League (ACL) which outcome is considered of utmost importance as it gives the winners a great opportunity to continue the competition with great confidence and increase their chances of reaching advanced stages of the continental championship.

Both Al Jazira and Al Nasr will play today evening, when the former face Al Istiqlal of Iran at Azadi Stadium in Tehran at 6:30pm (UAE timing) in the first group which also includes Nasaf of Uzbekistan and Qatar's Al Rayyan. Al Jazira beat earlier Nasaf 4/2 in their match which was held on Karshi Stadium in Uzbekistan, and overcame Al Rayyan 3/2 in the game held at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the second round of the competition, while Al Nasr will host Ahli of Saudi Arabia at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai in the third group matches, which also includes Sepahan of Iran and Qatari side Lekhwia.

Al Shabab and Bani Yas will conclude the UAE teams' participation in the third round on Wednesday evening, April 4, when the former take on the visiting team Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in Group D at Maktoum Bin Rashid Stadium and Bani Yas face the Saudi team Al Ittihad in their match which will be held at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.

Al Jazira are sitting on top of the first group, after collecting six points from two consecutive wins in the first and second rounds, to stay two points behind second-placed Al Istiqlal of Iran, who are followed by Nasaf of Uzbekistan in the third place with one point while Al Rayyan of Qatar are classified at the bottom of the group after two defeats and are still seeking to achieve their first win. Al Jazira will play this game without their defender Lucas Neill, and their Brazilian coach Caio Junior has to choose between one of the two defenders Sami Rabei and Saleh Bashir to replace him.

On the other hand, Al Nasr are seeking to stay in the heart of the competition, having achieved their first win in the second round with a 2-1 win over Lekhwia of Qatar, scored by Ivorian Amara Diane to take  second place, just one point behind leaders Sepahan of Iran with four points. Al Nasr's match against the Saudi team Al Ahli will not be easy for both sides who have to exert more efforts. Al Ahli are staying in 4th position with one point following a draw with Sepahan. It is expected that the struggle between the teams of this group will be very tough as the difference between the four teams is still very small and can be broken easily.

Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia will host their rivals Bani Yas on Wednesday evening in a very important game especially for UAE side who aspire to reach the advanced stages of this continental competition. Bani Yas are currently in the second spot in Group B with four points following their 2-0 win over Al Arabi of Qatar and a 1-1 draw with Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan. They are just two points behind group leaders Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia who have collected six points from a 3-1 victory against Al Arabi of Qatar and a 4-0 win over Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.

The fourth encounter in the third round will combine UAE side Al Shabab and their Saudi visitors Al Hilal. The hosts are staying at the bottom of Group D with a lone point, and will try to heal their wounds after receiving a big loss in the second round from Piroozi of Iran with a 6-1 result.  Al Shabab will play this game without their Chilean player Carlos Villanueva, who suffered recently a cruciate ligament injury. Pirozzi are leading this group with four points followed by Al Hilal and Al Gharafa in the second and third places respectively, each with two points.