Neftchi Fargona vs Al Quwa Al Jawiya Predictions
Neftchi Fargona and Al Quwa Al Jawiya meet at Istiqlol Stadium on Monday in an AFC Champions League Elite contest.
The Uzbek league leaders have been excellent at home, while the Iraqi champions have made an unconvincing start to their domestic campaign.
Neftchi to win is my best bet, while I also have a stake on both teams to score in Fergana.
Neftchi Can Make Home Advantage Count
- Neftchi won 6 of their last 7 home matches
- Neftchi have seen BTTS in 5 of their last 8 home matches
- Al Quwa Al Jawiya have seen BTTS in 9 of their last 11 matches
- Al Quwa Al Jawiya lost 2 of their last 3 matches
First-Ever Meeting in Fergana
Neftchi Fargona and Al Quwa Al Jawiya will meet for the first time in Monday's AFC Champions League Elite contest.
Neftchi Stay Top with Surkhon Win
Neftchi return to Istiqlol Stadium after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Surkhon in the Uzbekistan Super League on Wednesday.
Vladimir Jovovic opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Stipe Perica converted a penalty to double the hosts' advantage.
Surkhon pulled one back after half-time, but Islombek Ismoilov's side held on to secure all three points.
Last weekend’s victory maintained Neftchi’s lead at the top of the Super League. Twenty-one games into their season, Fagona remain just two points clear of nearest rivals Pakhtakor.
Strong at Istiqlol Stadium, Neftchi won six of their last seven home matches, scoring 19 goals in those fixtures.
The Uzbek champions now face their first-ever fixture in the AFC Elite. Neftchi have not qualified for continental competitions since their 2012 appearance in the AFC Two.
Frequently involved in high-scoring outcomes, ten of Neftchi’s last 13 games finished with at least three goals scored. BTTS landed in eight of those fixtures.
Al Jawiya Make Slow Start
Al Quwa Al Jawiya make the trip to Uzbekistan after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Al Zawraa in the Iraq Stars League on Thursday.
Mohammad Sami was sent off after just 17 minutes, before Hiran Ahmed's 40th-minute goal proved the difference in a tight Baghdad derby.
That result came just three days after a dramatic 3-2 victory at Karbala ended their five-match winless start to the new Iraq Stars League season.
Wesam Rizik's side opened the campaign with four successive score draws before a 2-1 defeat at Duhok.
Winless in six of their last seven matches, defensive issues have seen the Iraqis concede at least one goal in 12 of their last 13 fixtures since May.
The visitors return to the AFC Elite for the fourth time as reigning Iraqi champions after securing an eighth domestic league title last season.
Neftchi Fargona vs Al Quwa Al Jawiya Team News
Neftchi Fargona: (4-2-3-1) Botirali Ergashev; Koffi Kouao, Bojan Ciger, Nurmuhammad Abduganiyev, Farrukh Sayfiyev; Ikrom Alibaev, Ratinho; Abrorbek Ismoilov, Vladimir Jovovic, Alisher Odilov; Stipe Perica
Neftchi boss Ismoilov is expected to retain the same XI that started Wednesday's victory against Surkhon. Vladimir Jovovic and Stipe Perica should continue in attack after both scored in the midweek win against Surkhon.
New arrivals Yan Sasse and Michel Augusto could come into contention if they are registered in time for Monday's contest.
The hosts have no reported injury issues.
Al Quwa Al Jawiya: (4-2-3-1) Mohammed Salih; Sipan Sediq, Ruslan Hanoon, Achraf Boudrama, Mohanad Jeahze; Saad Abdul Ameer, Moses Orkuma; Tuisila Kisinda, Tomas Andrade, Mustafa Waleed; Anthony Okpotu
Al Jawiya head coach Rizik has a strong squad available for the trip to Uzbekistan. Mustafa Al Amin and Mohammad Sami are in contention to earn recalls should the visitors freshen up their selection on Monday.
Nigerian forward Anthony Okpotu is expected to spearhead the Al Quwa Al Jawiya attack.