ACL MD4 – Group B: Lekhwiya vs. Esteghlal Khouzestan [PREVIEW]

AFC – DOHA, Lekhwiya can leapfrog Esteghlal Khouzestan should they hand the Group B leaders a first defeat of the 2017 AFC Champions League at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday.

Ismail Mohamad cancelled out Hassan Beit Saeid’s opener when the sides drew 1-1 in Ahwaz four weeks ago, while Lekhwiya’s Mohammed Tresor’s late dismissal for a second bookable offence means he is ineligible for the return fixture.

Esteghlal Khouzestan have enjoyed an unbeaten start to their maiden continental campaign and won their previous away encounter 1-0 against Al Jazira. Avoid defeat in Qatar and they will edge ever closer to round of 16 qualification.

But the Iranian champions go into the fixture having not won since early March and on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Mashhad in the Iran Pro League. In contrast, Lekhwiya have claimed back-to-back domestic wins against Al Jaish and Al Ahli since the sides last met.