Iranian side Shabahan face UAE side Shabi Al Ali in the first round of the Asian Champions League outing at their own stadium. The winner will go on to challenge for a ticket to the Qatari Egalafa for promotion to the league. Shabahan, who finished in the top 16 of the AFC Champions League last year, are not only experienced but also have a sharp offense. Tonight, they are expected to pick up their first win at home and make a name for themselves as the first team to do so, a strategy that is undoubtedly well thought out.
Shabahan have made repeated appearances in the AFC Champions League. Under the Portuguese coach Morris, the Iranian powerhouse finished third in the Iranian domestic league last season, but with a high goal scoring and ranking factor, they became the team with the most goals. Despite an unexpected loss to Hilal in the Round of 16, Shabahan stuck to their attacking tactic of "double kill", scoring first in both rounds of the tournament and breaking the deadlock first in five of their last six AFC Champions League matches.
Shabi Al Ali's defense is porous.
In last season's AFC Champions League, Shabbi Ali were unfortunate to be out of the play-offs. They looked a bit handicapped against a strong opponent. They conceded the first goal three times in the past four AFC Champions League matches. Although they have just brought in Iranian striker Asmund, the newcomer may not be able to bring significant results in the process of integrating into the team. Shabahan is expected to be the first to break the deadlock in this match.
