AFC Champions League Elite:
Esteghlal, Persepolis desperate for much-needed wins
AFC – Victory is the only option Esteghlal and Pakhtakor have when they square off in their AFC Champions League Elite tie today.
Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal are in eighth place in the standings with three points while Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor – on two points – are 10th with the top eight teams to advance to the knockout stage from the West Zone.
Three defeats have followed Esteghlal’s opening day 3-0 win against Qatar’s Al Gharafa and another loss would make it their longest run without victory on the continental stage. The Tehran Blues have been struggling domestically as well, sitting 10th in the standings on 11 points, 10 behind pacesetters Sepahan SC.
Goals have also been hard to come by as their last three matches ended without Esteghlal finding the back of the net and they desperately need to have their shooting boots on against Pakthakor if they are to challenge for a knockout stage berth.
The Uzbekistan side have also found the going tough with a run of two draws and two defeats and will head into the tie having not beaten teams from Iran on the continental stage in their last six meetings.
The head-to-head is, however, in Pakhtakor’s favour with two wins in their previous three meetings but it has been a difficult season for them on the domestic and continental stages, with a 2-0 loss to AGMK on Thursday their ninth defeat in the Uzbekistan Super League.
Meanwhile, Esteghlal’s city rivals Persepolis will be hoping to claim a first victory of the campaign when playing away to Al Rayyan SC later today.
Both sides are in desperate need of a win with Qatar’s Al Rayyan having accumulated three points from four matches while the Iranian Reds are one behind.
Al Rayyan ended a run of three consecutive defeats with their 1-0 win over Pakhtakor on Matchday Four and will be hoping to carry that form into their tie against Persepolis.
Inconsistency has been a bane this season, with their form in the Qatar top flight also underwhelming with a 2-1 defeat to Al Shamal on Friday leaving them ninth in the standings on 10 points, 15 behind leaders Al Duhail SC.
Persepolis have also found the going tough on the continental stage, managing just two draws but will count on their record against Al Rayyan to get on the winning trail – having won two and drawn one of their last three meetings with the Qatari side.
Their domestic form has been good, advancing to the Round of 16 of the Hazfi Cup with a 3-0 defeat of Songoun on Thursday and sitting just a point behind Sepahan in the Iranian Pro League with a game in hand.