Al Ittihad eye revenge

AFC - Reigning Saudi league champions Al Ittihad will be looking for revenge against their Iranian counterparts Sepahan when the two teams meet in an AFC Champions League Group D clash in Riyadh on Tuesday evening.

Al Ittihad's long unbeaten run in all competitions was halted by the Iranian side a fortnight ago as they were edged 3-2 in Esfahan, a result that dropped the Saudi champions into second place in the group, one point adrift of Sepahan.

Al Ittihad's task has been made more difficult with the loss of influential Brazilian playmaker Flavio Chico for Tuesday's match. Chico will watch the game from hospital after being admitted with appendicitis.

Also likely to be missing from Jose Candido's side is Hamza Edris, who is doubtful with a knee injury, while Saoud Kareri is definitely out after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the first meeting with Sepahan.

The Iranian side will be relying on the magic of Mahmoud Karimi, whose brace in the first encounter between the two sides proved decisive in Sepahan's victory, as well as their excellent teamwork.

"We should forget about the first defeat," said Al Ittihad president Mansour Al Bluwi. "It will not be an easy game for us but we trust that the players can get a result against the Iranian champions. 

"The most important thing for us is to get the three points in order to stay in the competition," added Al Bluwi.