Persepolis is aiming to become the first team from the Islamic Republic of Iran to reach the final since Zob Ahan in 2010, while Sepahan, in 2007, remains the only other side from the country to have made it to the showpiece event – both ended up losing to East Asian opposition.
The Iranian club has won five from five at Azadi Stadium and needs only to avoid defeat in order to eliminate Al Sadd after Ali Alipour’s late penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Doha in early October.
Al Sadd is the only side left in the AFC Champions League to have won the competition, while it also secured a 3-1 victory at Azadi Stadium over Persepolis’ city rival Esteghlal in the first leg of the quarter-final, the-afc.com wrote.
But, after defeating Persepolis at home in the group stage, the Doha side lost the return meeting in the Iranian capital before also being defeated in the first leg of the last four.
To advance, it must score past Tuesday’s opponent for the first time in more than 180 minutes and end its 100 percent home record.