ACL: Iran’s Persepolis, Esteghlal Khuzestan in Action
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Persepolis football team of Iran will host Al Rayyan of Qatar on Matchday 4 of the AFC Asian Champions League on Monday, while Esteghlal Khuzestan face Lekhwiya in Doha.
Persepolis will be out to avenge the 3-1 defeat to Al Rayyan last month in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in Group D.
Mehdi Taremi opened the scoring on Matchday Three but a Rodrigo Tabata brace and Sergio Garcia’s late strike saw Al Rayyan claims all three points and jumps to the top of the group standings.
Michael Laudrup’s team has lost all five of its previous visits to the Islamic Republic of Iran and will have to make do without the suspended Abdulkareem Salem.
Iran Professional League (IPL) leader Persepolis warmed up for the clash with a 2-0 victory over Paykan on Wednesday while Al Rayyan drew 1-1 with Al Arabi in the Qatar Stars League a day later.
In Group B, IPL holder Esteghlal Khuzestan will play Qatari Lekhwiya at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
Esteghlal Khouzestan has enjoyed an unbeaten start to its maiden continental campaign and won its previous away encounter 1-0 against Al Jazira and was held to a 1-1 draw by Lekhwiya. To avoid defeat in Qatar will edge ever closer the debutant to round of 16 qualification.
But the Iranian champion goes into the fixture having not won since early March. The team has lost 2-1 to Siahjamegan in the domestic league. In contrast, Lekhwiya has claimed back-to-back domestic wins against Al Jaish and Al Ahli since the sides last met.
