Less than a week before the start of the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League, Al Duhail and Al Sadd - Qatari rivals of Persepolis and Esteghlal in the knockout stage - showed their power with decisive victories against their rivals in the league matches.
Both teams thrashed their league opponents with plenty of goals. Al Duhail humbled Al Khor with six goals on Saturday while in a more offensive game Al Sadd beat Al Arabi 10-1 on Sunday. The Qatari results should sound a clarion call for the Tehran clubs.
Esteghlal will resume its continental campaign on August 27 at Azadi Stadium against Al Sadd. The other Iranian representative among the last 8, the Reds will meet Al Duhail at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha a day later.
In the Qatar league, Al Sadd is now atop the table with Al Duhail trailing in second place. The situation for Persepolis is quite like Al Sadd in the Persian Gulf Pro League while Esteghlal is down below in fourth place.
In the Persian Pro League last Thursday, Persepolis ended the game in a goalless draw against Esteghlal Khuzestan while Esteghlal scored a 3-0 victory against Tractor Sazi on Friday.
Under the tutelage of Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic, Persepolis has been in top form over the past two years, winning domestic league title in two consecutive years and reaching AFC Champions League semifinal last year. The Reds strive to win their first Asian title.
Winfried Shaefer’s Esteghlal is after adding another star to its jerseys after 27 years with one of the best teams it has had in years, comprising experienced and young talented players.
As Iran’s most decorated team in the history of AFC Champions League, the Blues won two titles in 1970 and 1991. They have two stars shining on their jerseys representing their continental triumphs.
Four teams from West Asia and four teams from East Asia are in the quarterfinals of the tournament. If both Persepolis and Esteghlal beat their Qatari rivals, they will face each other in the semifinals.
