Lekhwiya, Al Sadd set for ACL action today

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The return of striker Sebastian Soria will bolster Lekhwiya's confidence as Michael Laudrup's side take on Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor in a vital AFC Champions League (ACL) match in Doha today.

Al Sadd, meanwhile, will look to replicate their previous performance against Uzbekistan's Lokomotiv, whom they defeated 6-2 at home last month.

Lekhwiya haven't had a great start to their AFC Champions League campaign. The Qatar Stars League (QSL) leaders have won only one match so far, leaving them struggling in third place behind Iran's Persepolis and Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr.

"It's a crucial match for us," Laudrup said yesterday. "We need to a win to ease our path to the next phase of the tournament."

Lekhwiya had beaten Bunyodkor 1-0 in the first leg and the return of their star striker will further bolster the Qatari side's confidence.

Bunyodkor are at the bottom of the table with just one point from three matches with virtually no chance of making it to the last 16, but the Uzbek side would want to prove a point. "They beat us in Uzbekistan, we hope to beat them in Doha," Bunyodkor coach Sergey Lushchan said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Al Sadd coach Hussain Ammouta has injury concerns ahead of his team's clash with Uzbekistan's Lokomotiv in Tashkent.

Defender Ibrahim Majed and the midfield duo of Talal Al Bloushi and Jasser Medany are set to miss the tie for the unbeaten Group C leaders, who could qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare with a victory today.

"I expect an interesting and difficult match. Lokomotiv still have a chance to qualify to the Round 16 and they will try to show their best on the field. We also want to reach a victory," said Ammouta, with his side currently three points clear at the top of Group C while also still in the hunt for domestic honours heading into the final two games of the QSL season.

"We give attention to the Qatar championship and AFC Champions League together. We have two more games in

championship and we will continue to battle for the first place until the last chance. Our management wants us to have good results on the international scene also.

"Lokomotiv is a good team. I watched many games of Lokomotiv and I have a positive impression."

Lokomotiv coach Vadim Abramov has asked his men to rise to the occasion.

"We will play against good opponent and we will try to collect three points. We want to show we can play football, attacking football. Our aim is victory, this is the most important. If we can win, the players will begin to play well in the next matches," said Abramov who saw his side draw 1-1 with Iran's Foolad Khouzestan last time at home in the AFC Champions League.

"We will play against good opponent and we will try to collect three points. We want to show we can play football, attacking football. Our aim is victory, this is the most important. If we can win, the players will begin to play well in the next matches," said Lokomotiv coach Abramov, who saw his side draw 1-1 with Iran's Foolad Khouzestan last time at home. "We lost 6-2 in Doha and it was very bad for the team and for me. We want to show our fans we are a strong team and only victory will satisfy us," he added.