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Qatar’s Lekhwiya begin their 2016 AFC Champions League Group B campaign today against Iran’s Zob Ahan at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. Lekhwiya go into the game buoyed by a 3-0 win over El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League, a result that moved Djamal Belmadi’s side into second place, well adrift of runaway leaders Al Rayyan.
The Qatari side reached the quarter-finals of last year’s AFC Champions League – the second time in three seasons the club has advanced to the last eight – and former Qatar national team coach Belmadi has called on his players to focus on the task that lies ahead against Zob Ahan.
“We had good preparations for this match after the game against El Jaish in the local league, which was a good win for us,” said the France-born former Algeria international.
“We must play with a lot of concentration in this match in order to achieve a good result.
“Our main focus at the moment is on the AFC Champions League and the match against Zob Ahan in particular. We respect our opponents and the match will be very tough and will require a lot of physical effort from our players.”
Meanwhile Iran’s Zob Ahan will be looking to break a run of four successive draws when they face QSL champions Lekhwiya today.
Four points from their last four games has seen Yahya Golmohammadi’s side drop to fourth in the Iranian league and sit five points adrift of leaders Esteghlal, and the former Iran international concedes his team face another tough task against the Qatari side.
“The match will be very difficult for us. Lekhwiya are a well known team in Qatar and they also have good experience in the competition because they have always been present in recent years,” said Golmohammadi (pictured), who represented his nation at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
“The two sides are going through similar conditions locally and they will be looking to give their best in the AFC Champions League. I have a lot of confidence in my players and I hope that we will have a good start in the competition.”
Zob Ahan reached the final of the AFC Champions League in 2010, when they lost out to Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa, and are returning to the competition for the first time since 2011, when they lost out in the quarter-finals.
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