Al Hilal promise to play like champions against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in ACL

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - Al Hilal manager Razvan Lucescu says his focus is solely on his side on Monday as the Asian Champions League winners take on Arabian Gulf League leaders Shabab Al Ahli Dubai at the Rashid Stadium.

The Saudi Arabian club, who secured last year's competition in November, make their second visit in a week to Dubai following their Group B opener against Shahr Khodro.

Heavy favourites against tournament debutants, Hilal prevailed 2-0 at the Zabeel Stadium to kick-start their title defence on the right note.

However, Shabab Al Ahli are sure to offer more of a test at the Rashid Stadium, despite their disappointing 2-1 loss to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor last week. Similar to Hilal, the Dubai side top their domestic standings.

The last time the two sides met in the Champions League was 2015’s memorable semi-final, when the then Al Ahli defeated Hilal 4-3 on aggregate to progress to the final.

“I believe we know what we should about the team we face tomorrow,” Lucescu said. “It is a good team from the Emirates, with strong points as well as weaknesses.

“To prepare the game is very important, but at the same time it’s important how we’re going to play tomorrow. We are a team who know how to win, we are a team that has very high targets.

“To achieve such a high level, [you need] to win every game, forget the last game that we played two days before or seven days before and be focused on the next game.

"The result of football is not done by history; this is a topic for you, the media. For us, it is not important. For us, what is important is to be ready for tomorrow. We are in a very good mood, with a good confidence.”

Opposite number Rodolfo Arruabarrena added: “We are facing a big match. We are playing against the last champions, a big team, an important team. We work to do our best and get our first three points in this Champions League.

“We lost the first match, but it’s a competition in which we have the dream to fight until the end. We made a good match in Uzbekistan, but some small mistakes made us lose. We hope to make a great match tomorrow.

“It is true, it is a strong team. They showed last year in winning the title and making a very good [Fifa] Club World Cup ... they have lots of players with a possibility to play.

“It is very important that we are very good in all aspects. We hope we can show this on the field, and not just talk about it.”