AFC Champions League Elite:
Iranian clubs to make last-ditch bid for knockout spots
Three last-16 places in the AFC Champions League Elite will be up for grabs when the final round of the league phase fixtures takes place in the west zone on Monday and Tuesday.
Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Nassr, plus Al Sadd of Qatar and Emirati outfit Al Wasl have already secured their place in March’s knockout round, and the battle for the remaining top-eight spots in the 12-team table will go down to the wire between Tehran archrivals Persepolis and Esteghlal as well as Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Pakhtakor.
Sitting sixth in the table with eight points, Al Rayyan is in the driving seat to go through, with Al Gharafa (7pts), Esteghlal (6pts), Persepolis (6pts), and Pakhtakor (4pts) in the following spots.
A 4-1 humiliation at Al Hilal last time out in the competition saw Persepolis drop below Esteghlal on goal difference, meaning even a draw against Al Nassr at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday could prove not enough for the Capital Reds to progress.
Persepolis will head into the game on the back of a 3-2 defeat against Sepahan in the domestic cup and head coach Ismail Kartal will hope his backline will improve on its miserable form of late, which has seen Persepolis concede seven goals in three games – a worst record for the club in seven years.
The good news for the Turkish coach is that his Italian opposite number Stefano Pioli is expected to field a weakened lineup for the final-day dead rubber, according to reports in the Saudi media, giving rest to Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, and Spanish center-back Aymeric Laporte.
Al Gharafa will still be facing a daunting task to progress when playing away to Al Ahli, as its inferior goal difference means a defeat in Jeddah could see the Qatari team be overtaken by the two Iranian clubs in the table.
Pakhtakor is without a win in seven games and will have to collect maximum points from Monday’s home game against Al Sadd to stand a chance of a last-16 place.
Esteghlal will know about other results when before playing at Al Rayyan on Tuesday.
Like their city rivals, the Tehran Blues have managed one win in the competition this term – a 3-0 home victory over Al Gharafa on Day 1 – but even a draw will likely send both sides through, if the final outcome in preceding night’s three games go their way.
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh’s side failed to capitalize on the home support against Al Shorta two weeks ago, sharing the spoils with the Iraqi champion 1-1. The interim coach, however, will be eager to see his men build on Friday’s 2-1 cup win at Shams Azar, as a knockout spot could extend his time on the Blues bench.