Persepolis’ Three Key Players against Al Hilal in ACL Semis

It’s fair to say that 2017 has been a stand-out year so far for Mehdi Taremi.

Part of the Iran side that went unbeaten to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with two games to spare, the striker has also fired club Persepolis to a first-ever AFC Champions League semi-final.

After netting six goals in the group stage, Taremi was on target again in the quarter-final, second leg against Al Ahli.

Taremi averages 3.2 shots per match, has a shooting accuracy of 46 percent, and has been responsible for almost half of Persepolis’ tally so far in the continental campaign.

Unlike Taremi, Mohsen Mosalman does know what it feels like to score against Al Hilal, having netted the opener against the Saudi Arabian side on Matchday One.

The playmaker might not have scored in the AFC Champions League since, but he has been far-and-away Persepolis’ creator in chief.

With 21 chances created – in the heady company of Hulk and Wu Lei as the joint highest amongst the semi-finalists – Mosalman's importance is self-evident.

Mosalman is noted for his passing ability and superb technique and he has flourished since joining the Tehran side from Zobahan in 2016.

Sadegh Moharrami’s 21 tackles won is more than any player amongst the four semi-finalists. The same number as the age of the precociously talented full-back.

The man from the northern Iranian city of Hashtpar rose through the ranks at Malavan FC before joining Persepolis last year.

The Iran U-23 player is largely used on the right flank of defense but is given the license to push forward.

With 79 duels won, Moharrami is second behind only Hulk, and he also boasts an impressive 81 percent passing accuracy, 76 percent accuracy in the opponents' half.

The youngster was an unused substitute in the quarter-final second leg against Al Ahli, but it was the only tie he has missed so far in the continental campaign.