With their automatic qualification spot at risk in Group A, Uzbekistan are set to host Kyrgyzstan at Milliy Stadioni on Thursday in the AFC World Cup Qualifiers.
The White Wolves have been in strong form this cycle and they will be confident of taking all three points, while the White Falcons have struggled and will be hoping to avoid being cut adrift of potential qualification.
Match preview
Timur Kapadze's Uzbekistan have only lost one of their last 10 competitive matches, winning seven and drawing the other two, with a narrow 3-2 defeat against Qatar back in November the only red mark on their record in Group A.
Last time out, the White Wolves were held to a 0-0 draw by Jordan in a friendly, though they did take maximum points in their most recent clash in the World Cup Qualifiers when they beat North Korea 1-0 on the road.
That victory has left Kapadze's team second in their group with 13 points from six matches, but they will be looking over their shoulder in midweek given that United Arab Emirates are just three points behind.
That being said, Thursday's hosts have not lost a game on their own turf since June 2023, and considering that it remains their only competitive defeat at home in the last five years, fans and players alike will be expecting to ease their concerns with a positive result once again.
Three points could take Uzbekistan level with group leaders Iran depending on results elsewhere, and would create a six-point cushion between second and third regardless.
Meanwhile, Maksim Lisitsyn's Kyrgyzstan have lost all but one of their games in Group A, and will be low on confidence going into their midweek match.
Most recently, the White Falcons were beaten 3-2 on their own ground by Iran in November, a match in which they came from two goals down to level the score but were finished off by a 72nd-minute strike from Sardar Azmoun.
That defeat means that Lisitsyn's side are now fifth in the group with just three points, four behind fourth-placed Qatar in the playoff spots, and it would take a dramatic turnaround for them to make the World Cup from this position.
To make matters worse, the visitors lost the reverse fixture and have only won once away from home in all competitions since 2022, drawing two and losing nine in that stretch.
An unlikely triumph on Thursday could see Kyrgyzstan put pressure on Qatar by closing the gap to fourth to one point, though defeat would allow North Korea to leapfrog them in the table and drop the White Falcons to the bottom of the pile in a worst-case scenario.
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Team News
Uzbekistan will be without centre-back Umar Eshmuradov, who is suspended after being sent off against North Korea during the last international break.
In his absence, expect Abdulla Abdullaev to join Husniddin Alikulov and Abdukodir Khusanov at the heart of defence.
As for Kyrgyzstan, striker Joel Kojo dispatched both of his penalties against Iran last time out for the national side, and he is likely to start once again alongside Gulzhigit Alykulov up front.
Elsewhere, captain Tamirlan Kozubaev should marshal a defence featuring Eldiyar Zarypbekov and Arslan Bekberdinov, while Alimardon Shukurov will be aiming to provide some stability in the middle of the park.
Uzbekistan possible starting lineup:
Yusupov; Alizhonov, Alikulov, Abdullaev, Khusanov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullaev, Mozgovoy, Khamrobekov, Masharipov; Abdikholikov
Kyrgyzstan possible starting lineup:
Tokotaev; Mishchenko, Zarypbekov, Kozubaev, Bekberdinov, Kenzhebaev; Merk, Shukurov, Abdurakhmanov; Kojo, Alykulov
We say: Uzbekistan 2-0 Kyrgyzstan
Uzbekistan have only lost once in qualifying so far and will be looking to solidify their place in the top two in midweek.
Also, with the hosts' excellent home record, they will be confident of seizing all three points against a Kyrgyzstan side that have struggled immensely on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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