KUALA LUMPUR — Saudi club Al-Shabab goes into its Tuesday's AFC Champions League match against the UAE's Al-Jazira with midfielder Fahad Hamad a doubt due to an ankle injury. Shabab arrived in the UAE Saturday having made an encouraging start to its campaign in Group A with a 2-0 win over Qatar's Al-Jaish. “We are ready to get the result we are looking for,” said Shabab coach Michel Preud'homme, who is a former Belgium international. Al-Jazira coach Luis Milla has labeled the match a decisive point for his club. In other matches Saudi club Al-Ettifaq takes on Qatari Lekhwia also Tuesday. In Wednesday's encounters Al-Hilal faces Al-Rayyan in Riyadh and Al-Ahli will play UAE's Al-Nasr in an away match. Elsewhere, tight security and palpable historical tensions are expected when Japan's Vegalta Sendai plays China's Jiangsu Sainty in Nanjing, scene of a brutal wartime massacre by Japanese troops. Thousands of police and security will guard the ACL fixture, which is believed to be the first senior men's football match involving a Japanese team in the Chinese city since the atrocities of late 1937 and early 1938. According to reports the Japanese embassy in Beijing has urged Japanese people living in China to keep a low profile during the game in Nanjing and Wednesday's clash between Beijing Guoan and Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Up to 13,000 police and security were estimated to have been in place last month when Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande hosted Urawa Red Diamonds. Relations have plummeted anew and anti-Japan street protests have flared in China recently, over a disputed island chain claimed by both countries. Only a small number of Japanese fans are expected at the 60,000-seat stadium. About 100 tickets were sold via the club and a travel agent, although more fans may try to gain entry at the stadium. Among other fixtures this week, 2006 winner Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors plays Guangzhou Evergrande in Jeonju, and 2007 champion Urawa Reds host Muangthong United, both also Tuesday. — Agencies
