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Persian Gulf Pro League preview:
Tractor eager to return to winning ways before midseason break
Stunned 1-0 by Shams Azar last time out in Tabriz, Tractor had a Mahdi Torabi’s late equalizer to thank for rescuing a point in the 1-1 away draw against Nassaji Mazandaran on Friday.
The result still proved costly for Tractor as it saw the Tabriz-based club drop to second in the Iranian top-flight table, while in-form striker Mahdi Hashamnejad and Croatian head coach Dragan Skocic were sent off in stoppage time and will miss Thursday’s game.
Nine-placed Esteghlal Khuzestan will be looking to build on a decent performance against formidable archrival Foolad in a goalless Ahavaz Derby when coming up against the host’s prolific frontline.
Meanwhile, a highly-anticipated matchup will see Sepahan, which routed Havadar 5-0 to overtake Tractor on top, visit Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to square off against Esteghlal.
Having replaced Portuguese coach Jose Morais in November, Frenchman Patrice Carteron has enjoyed an impressive start to life on Sepahan bench but could still face a demanding test against the Tehran Blues’ solid backline.
South African coach Pitso Mosimane has been quick to find a solution to Esteghlal’s defensive woes since taking over from Javad Nekounam last October, as his team has conceded a single goal in the previous six domestic outings across all competitions.
Sepahan winger Mahdi Limouchi will be the man to watch on the Azadi pitch after he bagged a sensational hat-trick against Havadar to join Iralco’s Amin Kazemian on top of the league’s leading marksmen chart with six goals.
Matchday 15 will kick off today with a game in Tehran’s Shahr-e Qods Stadium, where defending champion Persepolis and bottom-side Havadar go head-to-head.
The game could mark the end of interim coach Karim Baqeri’s short stint in the Tehran Reds’ dugout, with Persepolis reportedly in talks with several foreign candidates for the job ahead of a hectic January schedule.
Persepolis pulled off a 2-1 comeback victory over Khaybar on Friday to put a lid on a two-game losing streak and a second successive win could boost Baqeri’s chances for the permanent role until the end of season, though he is believed to have no intention of extending his spell beyond today’s encounter.
Elsewhere in the league, Golgohar will host Chadormalou in Sirjan, with fifth-placed Zob Ahan chasing a fourth win in five games when playing Nassaji at home.
Khaybar will face fellow-struggler Mes Rafsanjan in Khorramabad, while relegation-zone side Shams Azar plays away to Iralco.
Yahya Golmohammadi’s Foolad will be desperate to return to winning ways in the home fixture against Malavan, which has been without a victory in four games.