Persian Gulf Pro League:
Title hopes, reputation on the line in 105th Tehran Derby
Persepolis will be looking to salvage its dismal season, while Esteghlal will fight for its reputation when the city rivals square off in the 105th Tehran Derby today.
A hard-fought 1-1 draw at Iralco last time out saw Persepolis fall further behind in the title race. The third-placed Capital Reds are now trailing Tractor and Sepahan by six and five points, respectively, at the top of the Persian Gulf Pro League table and any result other maximum points could all but finish the champions’ bid for an eighth top-flight trophy in nine seasons with nine games remaining in the campaign.
Persepolis has managed a single victory in six games across all competitions under new head coach Ismail Kartal, crashing out of the Iranian Hazfi Cup and the AFC Champions League Elite in the process.
Another disappointing result and performance today could pile pressure on the Turkish manager in the early days of his Persepolis reign, leaving the club on course to finish the season without silverware.
Kartal went on to rue his injury-hit, narrow squad after the Iralco stalemate, and with Oston Urunov, Saeed Sadeqi, and Farshad Ahmadzadeh missing today’s game, skipper Omid Aalishah will be the only recognized winger available for selection.
Sitting seventh in the table, Esteghlal has long been out of the title run-in, while having its own injury, and coaching, crises to deal with in recent weeks.
However, the Tehran Blues will be eager to build on a decent run of results to chase a first derby triumph since March 2018.
Esteghlal defeated Nassaji Mazandaran 1-0 in the league on Saturday, days after a 2-0 win at Al Rayyan sent the Blues into the round of 16 in the Asian elite clubs’ competition.
Alireza Koushki was Esteghlal’s star of the show with two goals and an assist in the previous two games, while captain and goalkeeper Seyyed Hossein Hosseini played his part by producing numerous saves to keep back-to-back clean sheets.
Interim coach Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh walked away from his role after the Al Rayyan game, with the club reaching agreement with former Esteghlal Khuzestan boss Miodrag Bozovic for the job until the end of the season and today’s game will be the Montenegrin’s first game in the Blues dugout.
Esteghlal’s realistic hopes for glory this season lies in the domestic cup, but a derby victory will be a perfect morale-booster for the Blues ahead of Monday’s home game against Saudi heavyweight Al Nassr in the Asian competition.
Crunch clash in Tabriz
All eyes might be on the game at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, but the Iranian fans could get a glimpse of the next Iranian top-flight champion when Tractor and Sepahan square off in Yadegar-e Imam Stadium in Tabriz earlier in the day.
Separated by one point, both sides are in flying form heading into the game, knowing a victory will give them the momentum in the title race.
Sepahan has suffered a single defeat in 20 league games this term, though it came in the reverse fixture earlier in the season when 10-man Tractor had an Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh’s strike for the massive 1-0 won.
Tractor, however, has looked vulnerable at times on home turf this season with three of the Tabriz-based club’s four league defeats happening in the Yadegar-e Imam Stadium.
Elsewhere, Mes Rafsanjan will host Chadormalou, while Es. Khuzestan welcomes Malavan to Ahvaz.
Fourth-placed Foolad Khuzestan will visit Zob Ahan on Friday, with Nassaji and Shams Azar going head-to-head in Qaemshahr in what will be a decisive encounter in the relegation battle.
Iralco will play away to Khaybar, and bottom-club Havadar hosts Golgohar Sirjan.