Al-Ittihad’s new coach Gabriel Calderon, right, in huddle with the coaching staff. (AN photo)

JEDDAH, 23 April 2008 — Saudi clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad play the return leg of the home-and-away matches against Al-Wehda of UAE and Sepahan of Iran today in the AFC Champions League.

In the first match, the Jeddah-based Ittihad host Sepahan at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, looking to avenge their shock 2-1 defeat against the visitors on April 9.

Despite the defeat, Ittihad remain top of Group A on 6 points from two wins and one defeat. Quruvchi Tashkent of Uzbekistan are on 6 points but in second place because of goal difference. Ittihad of Syria are third on 3 points from one win and two defeats and Sepahan also are on 3 poindts but in fourth and last place on goal difference.

New Argentinian coach Gabriel Calderon will be under the microscope as he tries to revive the fortunes of an Ittihad team that lost the Saudi Premier League title with a defeat against Al-Hilal and drew 1-1 against Al-Ittifaq in the King’s Cup for Champions.

The Sepahan coach said that he did not come to Jeddah for vacation and that he would capitalize on the away win to come back in competition. The other match in this group pits Quruvchi Tashkent against Ittihad of Syria in Uzbekistan.

Ahli traveled on Monday to UAE for the Wehda Group C match. Only prestige will be on the line in the match as both teams are out of the running.

Equal on 2 points apiece Ahli are third and Wehda last via the goal difference.

Al-Karama of Syria are first on seven points followed by Al-Saad of Qatar who are second with four points.

Speaking to a local sports newspaper, Ahli club president, who resigned recently, said the team is focusing on collecting the game three points. He said, “To those who said that we are out of competition I say that we still have a chance provided we win the remaining matches and for Al-Karama to lose the match against Al-Saad.” He said that the team would do its best to hold on to any chance the team faces saying that it is not impossible to qualify from this group.