ACL RD16: Al Nasr vs. Tractorsazi Tabriz [PREVIEW]

AFC – DUBAI, Tractorsazi Tabriz coach Amir Ghalehnoy is hoping high temperatures do not have a negative impact on his team ahead of the first leg of their 2016 AFC Champions League Round of 16 meeting with Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Temperatures are forecast to hit the upper 30s centigrade on Tuesday, more than 10 degrees higher than experienced in Tractorsazi’s home city as Amir Ghalehnoy’s side aim for a first leg advantage as they chase their first-ever appearance in the competition’s quarter-finals.

“I hope the match will be strong and reflect the names of the two sides who are looking for victory,” said the former Iran national team coach (pictured). “We have information and statistics about Al Nasr who we know play good football.

“We think that the heat could affect us while another issues that we face is that Al Nasr is an organised side and they play well offensively. However, we have prepared well for the match and we hope to return home home with a positive result that will help us for the return match.”

Tractorsazi, who are playing in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for the first time, failed to qualify for next year’s ACL having finished outside the top three in the Iranian league and exiting the Hafzi Cup at the semi-final stage against Ghalehnoy’s former employers Esteghlal.

But, having qualified for the Round of 16 as winners of Group C after finishing ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Pakhtakor from Uzbekistan, Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic is wary of the threat posed by last season’s Iranian champions.

“I’m happy that we are among the best 16 teams in Asia and we will be playing a historical match,” said the Serb coach, whose club are also appearing in the knockout stage for the first time.

“We have to work as one unit in order to achieve a good result before the second leg and continue in the competition.

“We are playing against one of the best teams in the competition this year as they are the winners of their group which included Al Hilal and Al Jazira. They are a good team and we expect a tough match against them.”