ACL Group A – Sepahan vs. Al Nasr [Preview]

AFC – ISFAHAN, Sepahan coach Igor Stimac will be looking for his team to record their first win in over three months when they start their 2016 AFC Champions League campaign against Al Nasr from the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the continental club championship on Tuesday.

The Isfahan-based club, who reached the final of the 2007 AFC Champions League, are on a dismal run that has seen them fail to pick up three points in the domestic league since November 20, leaving the Croatian’s position under serious threat.

But despite speculation over his status at the helm of the team, former Croatia national team manager Stimac (pictured) is focused on starting with a win over the club from the United Arab Emirates.

“That is possible but for now there is no reason to think about that,” said Stimac when asked about the possibility of being removed from his position after the game.

“The players have full confidence in me and the problems in our club should be resolved internally. Currently the only way forward is carrying on with the same quality and hoping for a better future.”

Sepahan are currently 11th in the Iranian league and have lost their last three games in a row and drawn the previous five while Al Nasr come into the meeting off the back of a 1-1 draw in their domestic competition against Dibba Al Fujairah.

“This is a big match,” said Stimac. “We want to get off to a good start in the AFC Champions League. We trained well in recent days and we are in good condition.

“Tomorrow’s match is more than a typical game. The match is about our motivation, honour, and team pride. We are facing problems but we’ve a great chance of winning tomorrow’s match.

“We will play against a team which has a good coach and according to our analysis is a coherent team in which each player knows his task well.”

Al Nasr, who return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012, are third in the UAE league, although well adrift of title-chasing duo Al Ahli and Al Ain.

Coach Ivan Jovanovic is targeting a win against the Iranians, even if the Serbian admitted to having limited information on his opponents.

“I’m very happy that we will compete in one of the best Asian tournaments,” he said. “We have been drawn against great teams and our goal is to qualify from this group.

“Sepahan is a very good team and we know that tomorrow we’ll have a tough match. The four foreign players in our team are the dynamic body of the team. All my players are ready to compete in this tournament. They have maintained their physical fitness to be in good condition against Sepahan and stage a good game.

“We know all of our rivals but for this game we have a minimum knowledge of Sepahan.”