AFC Champions League preview:
Persepolis looking to resurge at Al Nassr; Sepahan facing Air Force test
Three Persian Gulf Pro League clubs will be in action on Matchday 5 when the AFC Champions League returns after the international break.
Having already missed out on a top-two finish in Group D with a couple of games to spare, Nassaji Mazandaran will only fight for its reputation against Mumbai City – bottom of the group without a point – at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.
However, there will be all to play for on the preceding night for the other two Iranian top-flight giants, with Persepolis visiting Riyadh to take on Al Nassr and Sepahan hosting Iraqi side Air Force Club in Tehran.
Plagued by injuries and a flu virus in recent weeks, Yahya Golmohammadi’s Persepolis will be chasing a first victory across all competitions since the 2-0 home win against Tajikistan’s on October 24, though the game against the star-studded Saudi club and in-form Cristiano Ronaldo will arguably provide the most demanding test for the Tehran Reds in months.
The Portuguese superstar was on target twice as Al Nassr eased to a 3-0 victory over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on Friday – an eighth successive win in all competitions for Ronaldo and co.
The Reds’ last outing came before the international break in Isfahan, where Persepolis suffered a first domestic defeat since March – a 1-0 loss at Sepahan in the so-called ‘Iranian Classico’ – which was the latest episode in a frustrating four-game winless streak, following league draws against Malavan (0-0) and San’at Naft Abadan (2-2) as well as the 1-1 stalemate away to Istiklol.
Al Nassr is top of the table in Group E and is favorite to progress as the group winner – having a five-point lead over Persepolis with two games remaining – but the Reds, despite being all but guaranteed a runner-up finish, are far from securing a place in the knockouts as only three of the second-placed teams across five West Zone groups will head into the last-16.
Persepolis is currently fourth among the five runners-up due to an inferior goal difference against Sepahan and Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf, while Navbahor – second in Group D – is the most likely to go through thanks to a three-point advantage over the chasing three.
The Iranian champion will be without international center-back Morteza Pouraliganji and Yasin Salmani, both out for the rest of the season with ligament injuries, and integral midfielder Vahid Amiri is not expected to be back on the pitch before mid-December.
With the home game against Al Duhail on the final day of the group stage, Golmohammadi and his men might believe even a draw at Al Awwal Park will be enough to keep the Reds’ hopes for a knockout berth alive.
Tricky test
Sepahan will be looking to build on a decent run of late when squaring off against Air Force Club earlier on Monday.
When Sepahan was handed a 3-0 loss against Al Ittihad after their October fixture at the Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium was called off minutes before the kickoff – for what the Asian football governing body labeled as the Iranian side’s failure to act “in a politically neutral manner” – few fancied the Isfahan-based club recovering from the setback.
Jose Morais’s men, however, bounced back in style, running riot against AGMK with an emphatic 9-0 win in Tehran before the 1-0 victory over Persepolis was followed by Thursday’s 3-1 away triumph over Esteghlal Khuzestan.
Group C remains incredibly tight with just two points separating leader Al Ittihad and third-placed Air Force Club, who sits level with Sepahan ahead of Monday’s game.
A win for either side would see them go into the final day with a chance of topping the table, while defeat could signal the end of their qualification hopes.
Portuguese head coach Morais will be desperate to see international trio of Morteza Asadi – who has bagged nine goals and three assists in 12 matches this season – Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad-Javad Hosseinnejad contribute with yet another impressive performance.
Iraqi teenage sensation Ali Jasim will be the one watch in the Air Force outfit after scoring four in the competition – including one in the stunning 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad three weeks ago and a double in the 2-2 draw with Sepahan.