Persepolis, Tractorsazi to Clash With Emiratis

Persepolis will be looking to channelize the lessons from its defeat to Al Sadd of Qatar two weeks ago when they face the UAE’s Al Wasl in Group C of the AFC Champions League at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday.

According to the AFC website, the Iran side began its campaign in fine fashion, defeating Nasaf of Uzbekistan 3-0 in Tehran, but was well beaten by Al Sadd in a 3-1 loss on match day 2. Persepolis, though, is strong at home, having not lost at Azadi Stadium since the 2012 group stage in a run that has now reached eight games.

Al Wasl has endured a difficult start to its first AFC Champions League since 2008, with Al Sadd coming from behind to claim a 2-1 victory in the first game and Nasaf defeating them in Uzbekistan two weeks ago.

Should the Emirati team come away from Tehran without a positive result, knockout stage qualification would be unlikely. Midfielder Ali Salmin is ruled out through suspension after picking up bookings in Al Wasl’s opening two games.

  Tractorsazi in Abu Dhabi

Having suffered a 2-1 reversal to Group A leader Al Ahli Saudi FC two weeks ago, Al Jazira of the UAE will look for a positive response when they host Tractorsazi Tabriz at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The Emirati side defeated Al Gharafa 3-2 in its previous home match to bring an end to a 15-game winless run and will seek another strong performance in front of its own fans, although they will be without the suspended Mbark Boussoufa.

Tractorsazi, meanwhile, is rooted to the bottom of the table, having lost its opening game to Al Ahli and then being defeated 3-0 by Al Gharafa on match day 2. The Iranian team, which has Mohammad Iranpourian suspended, is still looking for the first point and goal of the campaign.

Al Jazira and Tractorsazi last faced off in the 2016 group stage, with the side from Tabriz winning 4-0 at home before claiming a 1-0 victory in Abu Dhabi, as it advanced to the knockout rounds as table-topper while the Emirati team was eliminated.