Persepolis to Build on Solid Foundation against Al Duhail: AFC
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Having already kept five clean sheets in the current edition of the AFC Champions League, Branko Ivankovic will build on this solid foundation in their bid to book a semi-final ticket for a second year running.
After a narrow 1-0 home victory, Al Duhail is aiming to hold on to a slender advantage when it visits last year’s semi-finalist Persepolis in the second leg of the quarter-final in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday.
Almoez Ali's header was the difference as Al Duhail hosted Persepolis two weeks ago, a ninth win on the trot meant the Qatari side equaled the record for most consecutive wins in a single AFC Champions League campaign.
For Persepolis, the result takes the team into familiar territory, having to overturn a one-goal deficit at Azadi Stadium just as it did against Al Jazira in the previous round, although this time it did not manage to score in the away first leg, the-afc.com reported.
Last year's AFC Champions League semi-finalist, Persepolis, will require a rigid defensive display to shut out its free-scoring opponent.
Seven goals conceded in its last three fixtures is a far cry from its dominance in the group stage, and Persepolis fans will be hoping for significant improvement on Monday.
The reigning Qatar Stars League champion has been a sight to behold in the ACL Champions League this season, winning all nine of its matches in the tournament so far. The latest was its 1-0 victory over Persepolis in Doha in the reverse leg.
The tie is far from over though, and Nabil Maaloul will be sure to drive that message home to his players. Al Duhail has averaged an impressive 2.5 goals per match on the road; and an away goal in Tehran could be just what it needs to reach the last four.
With Youssef Msakni still sidelined due to a cruciate ligament injury, Brazilian-Belgian Edmilson joined in the summer from Standard Liege.
