Mumbai City FC are all set to embark on their AFC Champions League campaign on Monday against Iranian outfit Nassaji Mazandran at Pune’s Balewadi Stadium.  The Mumbai side will play six matches in the league phase, home and away, against three teams with Uzbekistan’s Navbahor and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal being the other two competitors.

Coach Des Buckingham believes Nassaji Mazandra are a strong opposition. “Since their season has already started, they are four or five games in, so they are up and running and we are aware of that. But all teams in this tournament are champions in their own right and in their respective countries. So, we are expecting a hard challenge for which we do our best to prepare as much as we can. Also, since this is a match in our backyard, we are very much looking forward to it,” Buckingham told mid-day on Thursday.