The 2015 AFC Asian Champions League kicks off this week. Here's a quick preview of the West Asian side of the draw starting with Group A; including Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, Qatari champions Lekhwiya, Iranian big boys Pesepolis and Uzbek side Bunyodkor.
Team: Al-Nassr
Country: Saudi ArabiaManager: Jorge da Silva (URU)
Key Man: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (KSA)
Al-Nassr enter the AFC Champions League in impressive form after stretching their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League to 8 points in the last week. It was questioned whether they could keep up their impressive form that led them to clinch the title last season, but the Yellow’s have gone from strength to strength this campaign, going into this season’s continental tournament as a real outsider for the silverware on offer. Their rise has been built on the back of Mohammad Al-Sahlawi’s goals, the striker has been in red hot form this season, which he carried over to the national team in last month’s Asian Cup. A resurrgance in form of centre back Omar Hawsawi and Polish international Adrian Mierzejewski gives Nassr a balanced look across the pitch.
Team: Lekhwiya
Country: Qatar
Manager: Michael Laudrup (DAN)
Key Man: Nam Tae-Hee (KOR)
Qatari football is turning into a predictable affair as the top two look destined to run away with it. The ACL now provides the likes of Lekhwiya a new challenge as they look to make a real fist of this year’s edition after a poor group stage exit last time around. The Doha based club managed by former Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup are an unpredictable beast with much of their attacking exploits depending on the goalscoring form of Sebastian Soria. In behind the talismanic striker, Nam Tae-Hee is hitting some of his best form, while they have adequate support from the flanks in the likes of former Manchester City winger Vladimir Weiss and Tunisian international Youssef Msakni.
Team: Persepolis
Country: Iran
Manager: Hamid Derakhshan (IRN)
Key Man: Mohammad Nouri (IRN)
The ACL will prove a welcome distraction for Iranian giants Persepolis after a miserable start to their Persian Gulf Pro League campaign. They’ve never really recovered from the financial crisis that hit the club last summer which saw key players; Pooladi, Hosseini and Khalatbari exit under a black cloud. What they’ve brought in to replenish the squad has yet to really pay dividends. While the acquisition of Costa Rican international Michael Umana has provided security in place of Hosseini, an early injury to hot shot striker Reza Noruzi has left Persepolis pretty blunt in attack. The pressure is quite considerably on for Hamid Derakhshan, who needs victories quickly if he’s going to keep his job for the rest of the season.
Team: Bunyodkor
Country: Uzbekistan
Manager: Sergey Lushan (RUS)
Key Man: Sardor Rashidov (UZB)
It has been a record breaking year for Uzbek football, after they clinched four places in the ACL group stage for the first time. Shining light Bunyodkor, who can be praised for progressing the Uzbek coefficient for years, made it four teams from four after they impressed through the playoffs against the much fancied Emirati club Al-Jazira. While their recent form domestically suggested they could possibly struggle, they overcame Mabkhout and co. in sensational fashion, Asian Cup starlet Sardor Rashidov transferring his international form into the club game. After a 4th placed finish last term, mainly due to the mid-season exit of now national coach Mirjalol Qosmiov, Bunyodkor will hope for better in 2015, maybe even a lengthy ACL run.
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