Asian Champions League Final Second Leg
Paul Williams
After eleven months, 138 matches and 355 goals we're down to the final 90 minutes.
That is all that stands between the UAE's Al Ain or South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai being crowned 2016 AFC Champions League winners.
After last weekend's entertaining first leg, which Jeonbuk edged 2-1, we take a look at the main talking points heading into the second leg at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain this Saturday night.
Who holds the edge?
While naturally Jeonbuk were the ones celebrating most after their 2-1 win last Saturday night, there is still a debate to be had as to who holds the edge going into this second leg.
Al Ain opened the scoring last week, so they will be disappointed they didn't come away from the Jeonju World Cup Stadium with a better result, but that away goal from Colombian Danilo Asprilla still leaves the tie delicately balanced heading into the second leg.
A 1-0 win at home will be enough to see Al Ain crowned champions, so while they would have been disappointed after last week no doubt as they reflected on the match they would have been satisfied.
For Jeonbuk the win was important, especially after their disastrous end to the K League Classic season, and gives them much needed momentum going into the second leg knowing an away goal will make it that much harder for Al Ain.
What tactics do they use though? Do they push for the away goal, but risk leaving space for Al Ain to exploit? Or do they look to defend and sit on their lead, which could be fraught with danger if Al Ain get the goal they need, because as we've seen so often clubs struggle to pick up the intensity again once they start in a defensive mindset.
How will Zlatko Dalic use Omar Abdulrahman?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the first leg was the way in which Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic used his star player, Omar Abdulrahman. Rather than playing in his typical role as the number ten sitting in behind the striker, Dalic opted to use Abdulrahman as a false nine leading the line for Al Ain, with Danilo Asprilla and Caio on the flanks.
The move didn't really pay off as Abdulrahman was well contained and had almost no impact on the match in the second half. As the match opened up more in the second half the mercurial midfielder floated about the front third and was able to have a greater influence on the match, providing the assist for Asprilla's opener.
But at home and needing to score at least one if they are to have any hope of winning, you'd suspect Dalic will look to use Abdulrahman in his more natural and dangerous role, and maybe look to alter his attack by bringing in former Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Douglas, who has scored 22 goals in 33 matches for the Emirati side, to lead the line.
Can Al Ain stop Jeonbuk's attack
It's fair to say both sides possess quality in attack, but the same probably can't be said of their defences. While neither defence is bad, they are the weak points of the respective sides.
Jeonbuk's attack with Leonardo, Kim Shin-wook, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Dong-gook and Ricardo Lopes is incredibly potent. Lopes in particular caused Al Ain a lot of headaches last week with his direct style of play, running at the defenders and making them either over commit, thus drawing them out of position, or drawing the foul.
It's the threat provided by Leonardo that is the biggest one for the Al Ain defence. The Brazilian, who has been with Jeonbuk since 2012, scored both goals for the South Koreans last week including a thunderbolt from outside the area. The Al Ain defence will need to mark him much tighter if they are to limit his influence on this match, as he needs just a little room to create a chance, as he showed with the equaliser last week.
And then there is Jeonbuk legend Lee Dong-gook, the ACL's all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in 56 matches. While he was reduced to a bit-part role off the bench last week, he was involved in winning the penalty and with the end of his career looming on the horizon, his teammates will no doubt be motivated to help him win the ACL title he so thoroughly deserves.
PREDICTION
This is tight, make no mistake about it. There is little that separates the two sides. At home I expect Al Ain to score, which puts the pressure back on Jeonbuk. But I just can't see Jeonbuk not scoring, they're too good a side not to. I'm tipping a 1-1 draw on the night, and a 3-2 aggregate win for Jeonbuk.
Copyright: Paul Williams & Soccerphile.com
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