Sepahan set sets on home advantage

Abu Dhabi: Sepahan are gunning for all three points against hosts Al Ain that will see them top Group A and bag a home tie in the last 16 of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

Sepahan and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal are level at the top of the table on 10 points each and the Saudi side hosts Qatar’s Al Gharafa in the other Group A encounter.

Sepahan coach Amir Ghalenoei said: “It is a very important game for us as we want to win and top the group, which will see us play at home.”

“When we started out at the beginning of the season we had two goals in mind. The Iranian League and the ACL. We are almost league champions and now we also want to top this group and play at home.”

Both Sepahan and Al Jazira are comfortably placed to win their respective domestic titles with Sepahan needing just one point from their remaining two games.

Sepahan also trounced Al Jazira 5-1 at home but Ghalenoei said that would not factor into Wednesday’s game.

“That result is history. Al Jazira are one of the best teams in this group and should have been the first to qualify but they had some poor luck so we will not take them lightly,” the Iranian coach added.

“Serbian Milorad Janjus has just returned to training after his injury. Skipper Moharram Navidkia too is fighting an injury and hopefully the doctors will give him the okay. Otherwise all are fit and ready.

“When youngsters and non-regulars play their certainly don’t lack in motivation. In addition, with Jazira out of the reckoning they will play without any stress.

Al Jazira’s Brazilian coach Abel Braga hopes his side can do themselves justice on Wednesday.

“It is a difficult match against Sepahan. We were not lucky when we played them but tomorrow we will try to live up to our fans expectations,” he said.

“Al Jazira are out of the ACL but we still have to play in the (UAE) Pro League with an important match coming up. There will be no pressures on my players. We will be looking to play some of them who have not got a chance to play.

“Yes we are one of the best teams in the group but after a narrow loss in our first game we went to Iran and lost there. After that it became very difficult. In the ACL if you lose the opening game it is very difficult.”

Having won Jazira’s first-ever President’s Cup and on the verge of League glory; Braga added he is yet to make up his mind about extending his contract.

“My contract ends in May, I have met the board and they have offered me an extension. I will answer them in a week.”