ACL2020 Matchday Two: Group B Preview
Quick off the back of a thrilling opening matchday that saw 20 goals scored in eight West Asia fixtures, the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage continues with Matchday Two action on Monday and Tuesday.
Group B
While there were no wins in Group A, the home teams triumphed in both Matchday One fixtures in Group B. Pakhtakor FC defeated Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 2-1, while Al Hilal SFC brushed aside Shahr Khodro FC 2-0.
The title holders will want to dispel ghosts of the past when they travel to Rashid Stadium in Dubai to face Shabab Al Ahli. The Emirati side had beaten Al Hilal 3-2 on the same ground thanks to a late Kwon Kyung-won goal to reach the 2015 AFC Champions League final at their expense.
In Tashkent, Pakhtakor want to make it two wins out of two as they host debutants Shahr Khodro whose maiden AFC Champions League group stage experience ended in defeat. A second win in a row would put Pakhtakor on track to reach the knock-out stage for the first time since 2010.
For Shahr Khodro, the trip to Tashkent hands them the test of trying to beat Pakhtakor on their home turf; a feat no Iranian team has previously achieved in the AFC Champions League in eight previous attempts.
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
Venue: Rashid Stadium, Dubai
Kick-off: February 17, 17:30 UTC+4
Pakhtakor (UZB) v Shahr Khodro FC (IRN)
Venue: Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent
Kick-off: February 17, 19:00 UTC+5
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