A goalless draw in last week’s first leg in Qarshi means a winner-take-all clash which Al Ain will feel is within reach, having not lost to Nasaf in three previous meetings.
MATCH PREVIEW

Al Ain won twice at home in the group stage, beating Ahal FC 4-2 and Al Fayha 4-1, with the only defeat coming against Pakhtakor FC (3-1) after qualification to the knockout stage had already been secured.

Head coach Hernan Crespo will be confident that inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain have the quality to finish the job and make it to the quarter-final stage for the 12th time.

Nasaf, however, can be expected to provide stiff oppposition after having matched their best run in the AFC Champions League with last week’s home draw, which ltook their unbeaten run in the competition to four matches.

The Uzbek side have shown they are capable of picking results on the road this season with a win at Sharjah FC and a draw at Al Sadd SC giving Ruzykul Berdyev’s side plenty of confidence for the return fixture.

The winners will face either Al Fayha or Al Nassr in the quarter-finals.