Ehsan Pahlavan is one of a number of new recruits to have joined Persepolis ahead of the AFC Champions League's resumption and, just as the likes of Lak, Issa Alekasir, Saeid Aghaei and Milad Sarlak have done, the forward has fitted seamlessly into the starting 11. A pair of assists against Sharjah on Matchday Six is among the highlights.
The 27-year-old has yet to open his account for his new side although, in a career spent primarily with Zob Ahan, goalscoring has not featured high up on his resume. Indeed, Pahlavan has played 26 times in the AFC Champions League since debuting in 2016 and has just three goals to his name.
However, he may have good reason to feel confident about adding to his tally given that all three of those strikes have come against Saturday's opponent. Back in the 2016 group stage, Zob Ahan and Al-Nassr faced off on Matchdays Five and Six, both with hopes of reaching the last 16, and Pahlavan starred with two goals in the first game and another in the rematch to help the Isfahan side advance, the-afc.com wrote.
Twenty games on and the Bojnord native has not found the back of the net since, but if he can rediscover his scoring touch, he could yet again help an Iranian side advance at Al-Nassr's expense. And if he is looking for any more good omens ahead of the semi-final – his manager when he scored those goals? Yahya Golmohammadi.