INAUGURAL CHAMPIONS LOOK TO RETURN TO QUARTER-FINALS

Inaugural winners Al Ain will seek to return to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time in eight years as Zlatko Dalic’s side look to defend a 2-1 advantage against fellow Emirati side Al Jazira in Tuesday’s last 16 second leg.

Al Ain grabbed the upper hand earlier this week in the Abu Dhabi as early goals from Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman secured a slender advantage over their domestic rivals.

And Al Ain are on course to hit back following last year’s group stage elimination with Dalic’s side possessing a strong home record in the AFC Champions League this season having won Group C courtesy of two wins and a draw at home.

 “The job is not done yet and we will play a better match in the second leg,” said Al Ain’s Croatian coach Dalic.

“However, we should play with a cautious approach as well because Al Jazira are a strong team and should not be underestimated.”

The result leaves Al Jazira, who were eliminated in their only previous appearance in the Round of 16 stage by Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in 2012, needing to at least score twice in Al Ain to keep their hopes of a first quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League appearance alive.

“Our chances are still good as we believe that we can win in the second leg and qualify,” said Al Jazira’s Italian coach Walter Zenga.

“We will be playing with fighting spirit in the second leg and we believe that we can win and qualify for the quarter-finals.”

Also on Tuesday, two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad travel to Riyadh looking to build on their 1-0 first leg win over fellow Saudi side Al Shabab.

Mukhtar Fallatah scored the late winner at King Abdulaziz Sport City last Tuesday to hand 2004 and 2005 champions Al Ittihad the advantage.

Meanwhile in the East, Pohang Steelers entertain 2006 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with the three-time Asian champions eyeing a place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 following their 2-1 first leg win in Jeonju.

“We have to keep in mind that we only won half of the game so far,” said Pohang coach Hwang Sun-hong.

“We must win another half in Pohang. We'll stay focused.”

Finally, defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande are clear favourites to secure a third consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals after recoding a 5-1 first leg win over Cerezo Osaka in Japan.

Chinese Super champions Guangzhou were at their dominant best at Osaka Nagai as two goals each from Brazilian duo Elkeson and Muriqui put Marcello Lippi’s side in command despite Ariajasuru Hasegawa netting in the first half for Cerezo.

“We should show that we are a fighting team and should show what we will have fixed with our attitude and play in Guangzhou,” said Cerezo coach Ranko Popovic.

“We are representing our country and shouldn’t miss the pride and the responsibility before adding our style of football onto the basics.

“You can be a winner or a loser in a competition, but you shouldn’t lose without doing what you have to do.”