East Bengal FC welcome Oman’s Al Seeb to the Salt Lake Stadium for a crucial AFC Champions League Two clash, with both sides targeting a place in the next round.

Kolkata, November 2: After East Bengal Women kicked off their AFC Women’s Champions League campaign yesterday at home, the spotlight now shifts to the men’s team as they return to their home turf. Just five days after their previous meeting in Oman, East Bengal FC are set to host Oman’s Al Seeb tomorrow at 7:15 PM in the return fixture of the AFC Champions League Two at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

As East Bengal FC captain Mohammed Rashid has already stated, the mindset ahead of tomorrow’s game is that it is the ‘final game’, Al Seeb head coach Jiri Chytry, meanwhile, acknowledged Rashid’s threat, identifying him as one of East Bengal’s most dangerous players, while hinted that his side are aware of their opponents’ weaknesses and will look to exploit them.

East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas believes his side have shown they can compete at this level, but the difference has been in the final third. Speaking ahead of the match, he pointed to the need for greater precision when creating or finishing chances. Despite the missed opportunities in previous AFC fixtures which ended goalless, he felt this could be one of the team’s best opportunities in the competition.

Habas was also pleased with the condition of his squad, saying East Bengal are competing on equal terms with their opponents. However, he stressed the importance of building better understanding among the players, particularly with several new faces still settling into the team. With Lucas, Loba, Zivulic, Ramirez among the options, the coach wants the squad to spend more time playing together and develop the coordination needed for a demanding run of matches.

Al Seeb, meanwhile, arrive in Kolkata knowing that a draw will not be enough if they are to progress. Head coach Jiri Chytry made it clear that winning is the only option for his side. He said they would begin with their usual approach before assessing the match and taking more risks if required. The Omani side have also worked on their finishing, defensive organisation and positioning after both teams created opportunities in the first leg without finding the net.

With Al Seeb needing a win and East Bengal looking to make their home advantage count. For Habas, the answer lies in precision, for Chytry, it is about taking the initiative and making the most of the chances that come their way. While East Bengal want to turn their attacking efforts into goals, Al Seeb are travelling with a clear target of their own.

The first leg ended without a winner, but Tuesday’s meeting will demand more than just creating opportunities. Both coaches have made their expectations clear, now it’s their players turns to do it into the pitch.