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UAE teams play decisive games in AFC Champions League this week

 

Al Ain and Emirates football teams are set to play their AFC Champions League Round 4 matches on Tuesday, April 19 while the other two UAE squads Al Wahda and Al Jazira will play the following day. It is a do-or-die match for all four UAE teams taking part in the continental championship after the poor results they have achieved in the three encounters they have played so far. Al Ain, Al Jazira and Emirates will play at their home stadiums, with only Al Wahda playing away. Al Wahda left this afternoon to Jeddah to face Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Wednesday.

Al Ain will meet the visiting team Hangzhou Greentown from China tomorrow at Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium in Qattara at 7:30pm. The hosts are sitting at the bottom of Group 6 with only one point which they collected after holding Hangzhou Greentown to a goalless draw in their away game. The visitors have 4 points, the same balance as Nagoya Grampus of Japan, but the Chinese side hold second place on goal difference. The Chinese team arrived in Al Ain on Sunday morning and conducted their first training session the same day at Khalifa Stadium before concluding their preparations with a training session this evening at the match venue. The match will be the last chance for the Al Ain to revive their hopes of making it through to the next stage. Their Brazilian coach Alexander Gallo is expected to introduce some new elements to his lineup. The goalkeeper Waleed Salim, who returned recently from injury after a long time out of the game, will replace Ismail Rabei, whilst defender Mohammad Ali Aydh will join the team in place of Faris Juma'a who was shown the red card in their previous Nagoya match in Japan.

In the second match of the day Emirates will face Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia at their home ground at 7:30pm. The hosts are currently in third position with three points after beating Al Rayan of Qatar 2-0 and losing to Zob Han of Iran 1-2 and to Al Shabab 4-1. Al Shabab are sitting in second place of Group D with 5 points, two below leaders Zob Han, with Al Rayan at the bottom of the group with one point.

The UAE teams will conclude this round on Wednesday, April 20 when Al Jazira host Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 7:50pm. The visitors have 6 points, putting them in the second spot after defeating Al Gharafa of Qatar 1-0 and overcoming Al Jazira 3-1. The hometeam are sitting at the bottom of the table with one point and will therefore be hoping to beat their contenders to put themselves back into contention.

Al Wahda will also battle it out on Wednesday against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium at 10pm. The hosts are leading Group C with full points after beating their three competitors, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, Piroozi of Iran and Al Wahda who each have two points and are in second, third and fourth positions respectively.