FC Arkadag began the final stage of preparation for the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 with Al Nassr Club from Saudi Arabia at the Olympic stadium in Ashgabat, The Golden age electronic newspaper reports.
The team of Vladimir Bayramov held their first training session today at a 45 thousand-seat football arena after returning from a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. During his three-week stay in Turkey, the three-time champion of Turkmenistan played four friendly matches in preparation for the matches against Al Nassr.
FC Arkadag coaching staff hopes that the friendly matches held with European teams in Turkey will help them prepare for their matches against a formidable opponent from Saudi Arabia, considered one of the favourites in the second-largest club tournament Asia.
The first match of the Round of 16 between FC Arkadag and Al Nassr Club, which includes a number of world stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, will take place on the 11th of February in Ashgabat. The return match will be played on the 18th of February in Riyadh.
Al Nassr Club successfully completed another match in the Saudi Arabian Championship. In an away match of the 20th round, team of Jorge Jesus won against Al Riyadh SC, who are currently in 15th place, with a score of 1-0. In the 40th minute, Sadio Mane, a two-time reigning African champion, scored the winning goal with a beautiful volley into the near left corner, following an assist from Joao Felix.
