Al Rayyan are preparing in earnest for their AFC Champions League match against Iran’s Esteghlal, to be played in Tehran on Monday, 2nd April.

Al Rayyan players, except Mohammed Alaaeldin and Ibrahim Masood who are representing Qatar in the tri-nation international friendly tournament also featuring hosts Iraq and Syria, are going ahead with their training under the watchful eyes of Danish coach Michael Laudrup.

Midfielder Daniel Goumou was exempted from the Saturday evening session as he was suffering from stomach pain.

Laudrup is to finalise the squad for the Esteghlal match before they leave for Tehran on 1st April.

Al Rayyan are currently second in Group D with six points behind Esteghlal, so The Lions will be keen to win the game and thus go top of the group.

Al Ain are third with four points, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on two.

Al Rayyan and Esteghlal had played out a 2-2 draw in Doha in the first round.