UAE Professional League Committee - UAE Pro League Committee

Al Nasr and Al Shabab face play-offs to reach group stage of AFC Champions League

UAE Pro League clubs Al Nasr and Al Shabab both face play-offs on Saturday 9^th February in order to qualify for the group stages of this season’s AFC Champions League.

Al Nasr will host Lokomotiv from Uzbekistan in an 8pm kick off at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The winner of the game will proceed to Group C, joining Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan of Iran, Qatar’s Al Gharafa, and Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia. Al Nasr coach Walter Zenga is expected to field his strongest possible team as he goes for victory, including new Japanese player Takayuki Morimoto, Italian striker Giuseppe Mascara and Brazilian Bruno Cesar. Habib Fardan will also rejoin the Al Nasr squad after UAE’s first round qualifier for the Asian Cup 2015 against Vietnam on 6^th February.

Also on 9^th February, Al Shabab will travel to the Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium in Iran to take on Sabaye Qom, with kick off at 5pm Tehran time (5:30pm UAE time). Whichever side is victorious in the match will join Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, Qatari team Lekhwiya and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq in Group B of the competition. Al Shabab’s Brazilian coach Paqueta will be looking to continue his side’s fine run of form, notching up ten straight wins after an unconvincing start to the season, and maintaining the winning streak will be helped by the Club’s ability to hold onto the Brazilian trio of Ciel, Edgar and Luiz Henrique during the transfer window, as well as Uzbek player Haydarov Azizbek. Defender Walid Abbas will also return to the squad following UAE’s midweek Asian Cup 2015 first round qualifier.