Today, “Pakhtakor” will face “Al-Hilal” for a place in the quarter-finals

Today, March 11, in the second leg of the Elite Asian Champions League Round of 16, Tashkent's "Pakhtakor" will face Saudi Arabia's "Al-Hilal", a team with a star-studded squad and the most decorated club on the continent.

Will "Pakhtakor" advance to the quarter-finals?

The Tashkent club enters this match in a positive mood, thanks to their victory in the first leg. "Pakhtakor" hosted "Al-Hilal" at home and won 1-0, with Flammarion’s only goal securing the win. They will be confident in their ability to resist their opponent in the second leg, as Tashkent made several changes to the squad during the winter transfer window. Legionnaires such as Brian Riascos, Flammarion, Jonathan, and Jonathan Lucca were added to the team. In the first match, it was the legionnaires who played a decisive role. Flammarion capitalized on a cross from Brian Riascos and scored the winning goal.

Serious losses for "Al-Hilal"

The Saudi club enters the second leg against "Pakhtakor" with significant injury concerns. The team’s main striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, is still recovering from an injury, while wingers Joao Cancelo and Renan Lodi are out for an extended period. It was also confirmed that midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic sustained an injury during the first match against "Pakhtakor" and will miss several weeks. Additionally, there is a possibility that Malcom and Joao Neves will be unavailable, although they are not injured. Despite these setbacks, Jorge Jesus' team will not easily exit the tournament. It is also reported that if Al-Hilal loses this match, the club's leadership may part ways with their coach.

Will "Pakhtakor" once again capitalize on their opponent's injury problems and secure a favorable result, or will "Al-Hilal"’s wealth of experience tip the balance in their favor? The answer to this question will be revealed in the "Al-Hilal-Pakhtakor" match, which is set to kick off at 01:00 on March 12, Tashkent time.

It is worth noting that a draw in the second leg will also be enough for the Tashkent side to progress.