Bunyodkor boss rules out Rivaldo

AFC – TASHKENT, Bunyodkor will be without Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo due to an ankle injury as they look to bounce back from the 3-0 AFC Champions League defeat to Zob Ahan against the same opponents at JAR Stadium on Tuesday.

Rivaldo was absent as Bunyodkor were stunned in Esfahan last week with the Iranians replacing their more illustrious rivals at the top of Group B.

And the veteran has been ruled out of the return clash along with compatriot Joao Victor.

“We will play without Rivaldo and Joao Victor,” confirmed Bunyodkor boss Luiz Felipe Scolari (pictured).

“Despite of this, it will be an important match for us. We have to win and we will do our best to win.”

Scolari will have Sakhob Jurayev available again after the defender was suspended for the first game against Zob Ahan. The Tashkent side have also had the luxury of an unhindered preparation as their Uzbekistan Cup game against Bukhara was postponed until April 18.

“We have prepared for the Zob Ahan match for the whole week,” continued the Brazilian.

“I hope it’s enough to play well. If we will lose the match then we will lose our chance to qualify. I don’t think we have to be first in the group. Our main target is to qualify.

“Zob Ahan is a very good team. They deserved to beat us last week but we have analysed our mistakes and I hope that we’ll manage not to repeat them.

“Iranian players are very strong dribblers and they like to shoot from every possible position. So we have to be more compact in defence.”

Zob Ahan have also enjoyed an extended break from league action and boss Mansoor Ebrahimzadeh is keen to spring another surprise over their hosts on Tuesday, although he did concede he would be happy with a point.

“We have come to win here,” he stated.

“I’m sure that my players will do their best to achieve it.

“It will be not be bad to play a draw in an away match and we will not be disappointed if it ends as a draw.”

Despite topping the Group B table at the halfway point, Ebrahimzadeh played down the prospects of his side winning the tournament outright.

“Who are the favourites of AFC Champions League? I think Bunyodkor and Al Ittihad have chances to win tournament if they qualify from the group stage,” he added.

“But we have played only half of the group stage, so everything could change. This is football and you have to be ready for surprises.”