ACL R16 Preview: Bunyodkor

The Uzbek champions have a proud record in the competition, reaching the knockout stage in every season since their debut in 2008. However, they were in serious jeopardy of crashing out in the group stage for the first time after taking only two points from their first four games this season.

Volkov was put in charge of the first team in early April after Mirdjalal Kasimov resigned in order to focus on his role as Uzbekistan’s national coach, and the result was a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes in the continental tournament.

They came from behind with two late goals to beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Fateh 3-2 before winning 2-1 in Qatar against El Jaish thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time strike by Sardor Rashidov. That saw them pip El Jaish for second place in the group by virtue of scoring a goal more than the Qatari club.

But while Volkov has much to be proud about after engineering the Uzbek team’s comeback, the 51-year-old believes that things will get even tougher for his side when they face Al Hilal in the last 16.

“I expect a very interesting and difficult game for us,” said Volkov. “We have studied our opponents well and we know that they play fast and are good on the flanks.

“Al Hilal have a lot of high quality players who can change the game at any time. They are one of the strongest teams from Saudi Arabia but we will try to show our best against their team.

“The Play-off stage is more difficult than Group Stage and they have the ability to change their tactical formation and game style during the match.”

Defender Sergii Symonenko, who scored in the victory at El Jaish, is suspended after receiving two yellow during the group stage but Volkov does not see his team’s defending as their main problem.

“Anvar Gafurov will be replacing Symonenko tomorrow,” he confirmed. I don't say we have problems in defence, but we have to play better in midfield.

“Our main problem concerns our midfielders as well as our foreign players who haven’t performed well this season.”