AGMK vs Al Ittihad: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

An away win will keep Al Ittihad boat in the direction of the next rounds

AGMK have witnessed harsh results in two competitions this November month. Firstly a 9-0 thrashing by Sepahan FC confirmed their exit from further engagement in the next rounds of the AFC Champions League. Later a narrow 1-0 defeat to FC Nasaf meant AGMK failed to lift the Uzbekistan Cup final trophy.

The 2022-23 Saudi Pro League champions are finding it hard to be on the road to defend their domestic title. At the time of writing Al Ittihad have played their 14 league game and lag 10 points behind league leaders Al Hilal. The Tigers now will travel to play at the Markaziy Stadion Olmaliq against a side they won 3-0 over on matchday 1 in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League matchday 5 of Group C.

Kick-Off:

Monday, 27 November 2023 at 9:30 PM IST (4:00 PM UK)

Location: Markaziy Stadion Olmaliq

Form

AGMK (in all competitions): W-L-L-W-W

Al Ittihad (in all competitions): D-W-L-L-W

Players to Watch

Khurshid Giyosov (AGMK)

The 28-year-old left winger Khurshid Giyosov can be the ideal choice to penetrate the opposition defence for AGMK head coach Mirjalol Qosimov. Domestically in the Uzbekistan Super League, Giyosov participated in each of the 25 league games so far scoring 9 goals. He even has 6 assists. In the AFC Champions League, Giyosov made an assist in the 4 games he started so far.

Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)

In the absence of Romarinho who scored a brace against AGMK last time out, Karim Benzema can be the headline grabber. The Frenchman has brought his scoring boots with him after leaving Real Madrid. Benzema has 8 goals and 4 assists in 12 Saudi Pro League games. This will be his second game in the AFC Champions League after being on the losing end to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.

Match Facts

• Al Ittihad are currently in an automatic qualifying position from Group C as table toppers while AGMK have nothing to play for
• The home side have conceded 17 goals in 4 AFC Champions League group games while the visitors have only let in 2 goals
• In their last and only meeting in history, AGMK lost 3-0 to Al Ittihad in AFC Champions League

Injury & Team News

No injuries to test the managerial mind of AGMK head coach Mirjalol Qosimov. But they will be without the services of Akramjon Komilov after a red card last game against Sepahan. Probably Oybek Rustamov will slot in for Komilov in the exact same 4-2-3-1 formation.

Marcelo Gallardo's first test in the AFC Champions League as a manager of Al Ittihad has as many as eight injury concerns. Only two of them - Aseel Abed and Awad Al Nashri can hopefully make it in time for the AGMK showdown. The eight-player list includes Romarinho and N'Golo Kanté who will be out of matchday 5 action.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 1

AGMK wins – 0

Al Ittihad wins – 1

Draws – 0

Predicted Lineup

AGMK predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Ergashev (GK); Axmadaliev, Businov, Rakhmanov, Rustamov; Kasimov, Kasymov; Hasanov, Tursunov, Giyosov; Boakye

Al Ittihad predicted lineup (4-3-1-2):

Grohe (GK); Al Menhali, Felipe, Kadesh, Bamsaud; Al Shanqeeti, Fabinho, Al Ghamdi; Coronado; Benzema, Hamdallah

Match Prediction for AGMK vs Al Ittihad

Al Ittihad are still in the mix of obtaining an automatic berth to the next rounds of the AFC Champions League. The club has decided to stay on course in their chase to do so without Nuno Espírito Santo.

New head coach Marcelo Gallardo will seek a win while AGMK has nothing to gain from in this AFC Champions League game. But the home side can test certain tactics to help them in their next and final game of the Uzbekistan Super League against FC Nasaf. Particularly they can avenge their Uzbekistan Cup final loss against them by finishing above them in the league at least.

Even though Al Ittihad are in a state of transition under Gallardo, they should be able to take back home a win.

Prediction: AGMK 1-2 Al Ittihad

Telecast for AGMK vs Al Ittihad

India – Fancode

UK – No telecast

US –  Paramount+

Nigeria – No telecast

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and join our community on Telegram.