(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
AFC.COM | The Peninsula
Qatari heavyweights Al Rayyan and United Arab Emirates' Al Wahda will both be searching for their first win as they try to squeeze into the next stage when they meet in Group E of the 2021 AFC Champions League (ACL) at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa today.
Both teams, however, have not enjoyed the best of starts to their 2021 campaign and with just a point to show after two matches, neither can afford anything less than a win today. Al Wahda will fancy their chances, having defeated Al Rayyan in four out of their five previous meetings in ACL, but the Laurent Blanccoached team has promised an improved performance against Al Wahda.
'We definitely played poorly in the second half against Persepolis and now we have to improve against Al Wahda, said Blanc, whose side is in a desperate position. 'Tomorrow is another game and I hope my team play with intensity because we need to win, it is important to us and we're ready to do that, Blanc said yesterday.
'Matchday Three is the halfway point of the group stage and it's very important for all the teams. If you perform well, you'll be on your way but if you don't then it will cause problems further down the road," Blanc said. Al Rayyan, who faced FC Goa in their Group E opener, were also left frustrated by the hosts in a 0-0 draw but worse was to follow against Persepolis on Saturday.
The Qatar Stars League side took the lead against Persepolis in the first period but a second half collapse saw them conceding three times. 'My plan is always the same. It doesn't matter who we play, Goa, Persepolis or Al Wahda, the most important thing is to score goals and that is our target. If we score one goal, we have to defend that lead so it is best to score more than one, the Frenchman said.
A win against Al Rayyan will put Al Wahda's ACL campaign on track and ten Cate has urged his team to be fully focused. 'Al Rayyan are a good side and the same thing can be said about us. It is going to be the two clubs fighting for second place in the standings. If you want to win games you must play on the offensive and I hope against Al Rayyan, we can achieve that, the 66-year-old Dutch tactician said.
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