Kuala Lumpur: After four tight first leg encounters, the eight teams in the West will return to 2017 AFC Champions League action on Monday and Tuesday with it all to play for in the second legs of the Round of 16.
Al Ain and Esteghlal Khouzestan will be looking to overturn one-goal deficits against Esteghlal and Al Hilal, while the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ahli and Lekhwiya will aim to build on creditable draws at Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and Persepolis.
Al Ain v Esteghlal
Kaveh Rezaei’s stoppage-time penalty gave Esteghlal a narrow 1-0 win over Al Ain in the first leg to mean the Iranian team travel to the United Arab Emirates with a slender one-goal advantage to defend.
But 2016 runners-up Al Ain showed their strong knockout stage pedigree last year and will be confident of working their way back into the tie, particularly with star striker Nasser Al Shamrani being brought back into the fold after missing the match in Tehran.
Al Ain (UAE) v Esteghlal (IRN)
Venue: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Kick-off: May 29, 22:45 UTC+4
Al Ahli (UAE) v Al Ahli (KSA)
Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates go into the second leg of their last 16 tie with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli as slight favourites after the sides played out a 1-1 draw in Jeddah in the first leg.
The hosts have won two from three in front of their own fans although the last time the namesakes met in Dubai – back in February 2015 – the game ended 3-3 and another high-scoring draw would see the visitors advance.
Al Ahli (UAE) v Al Ahli (KSA)
Venue: Rashid Stadium, Dubai
Kick-off: May 29, 23:00 UTC+4
Lekhwiya v Persepolis
A home win over Persepolis will see Lekhwiya progress to their third quarter-final in five years after the sides played out a scoreless draw in the first leg on Tuesday.
The competition’s top scorer Mehdi Taremi may be left to rue his late penalty miss at Azadi Stadium as Persepolis squandered the chance to take a one-goal lead to Doha, where unbeaten Lekhwiya have played three, won three.
Lekhwiya (QAT) v Persepolis (IRN)
Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: May 30, 22:00 UTC+3
Al Hilal v Esteghlal Khouzestan
Al Hilal go into the second leg of their Round of 16 clash with Esteghlal Khouzestan a goal to the good after coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in the first leg in Muscat.
Al Hilal are looking to return to the quarter-finals after missing out in 2016, while Esteghlal Khouzestan need to score at least twice – something they’ve failed to do in seven games on the continent – to have any chance of making the last eight.
Al Hilal (KSA) v Esteghlal Khouzestan (IRN)
Venue: Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: May 30, 22:30 UTC+3
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com