Margao, April 13: The AFC Champions League will be played in India for the first time here from Wednesday with FC Goa becoming the only team from the country to feature in the group stage of the continent’s top-tier competition in club football.
The Gaurs will take against Qatar’s Al-Rayyan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and head coach Juan Ferrando will hope that his team can fully utilise the advantage of playing at home.
The ISL 2019-20 League champions will compete alongside Persepolis, Al-Rayyan and Al-Wahda in Group E in the most prestigious club competition in the continent.
The Indian club will have its task cut out as it will be up against a side coached by former Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc. The home team will also have to contend with the likes of former FC Porto star Yacine Brahimi and prolific Ivorian striker Yohan Boli.
Besides Al Rayyan, the Gaurs will also have to contend with other well-known Asian clubs in the form of Persepolis FC (Iran) and Al Wahda (UAE).
Ahead of their debut in the league, FC Goa head coach Ferrando described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for the players to compete against some of the biggest names in Asia. “(We are) very excited. This is one of the biggest competitions in the world alongside the likes of the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores,” Ferrando said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many.”
The Qatari side made it to the playoffs of last season’s AFC Champions League campaign where they lost to Iranian club Esteghlal Tehran FC. FC Goa also achieved direct qualification for this season and will be looking to make a good start to their campaign. (PTI)
