Another week, another collection of standout performances from the cohort of Asian players currently lighting up football pitches outside the continent.
Sardar Azmoun (Zenit, Iran)
90 minutes, 1 goal, 80% pass accuracy (2-4 v Juventus)
90 minutes, 82% pass accuracy (0-0 v Ural Yekaterinburg)
One man who will be counted on to continue Team Melli’s charge to the FIFA World Cup is Sardar Azmoun.
The prolific striker was on target for his 61st Zenit goal away at Juventus in UEFA Champions League action midweek, before making his 100th appearance for the club in the Russian Premier League on Sunday.
Shahab Zahedi (Zorya Luhansk, Iran)
90 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 12 duels (2-0 v CSKA Sofia)
86 minutes, 3 goals, 2 shot assists (3-0 v NK Veres)
The 2021-22 European season has been littered with goals scored by Iranian strikers, but the current form of Zorya Luhansk’s Shabab Zahedi is arguably as good as any of them.
The 26-year-old had a goal and an assist for countryman Allahyar Sayyadmanesh in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, then scored a blistering league hat-trick on Sunday to take his tally to six goals in four games in an 11-day period.
Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle BK, Iran)
85 minutes, 1 goal, 12 duels won, 9 interceptions (3-1 v SønderjyskE)
An important figure in the Iranian national team’s engine room, Saeid Ezatolahi is enjoying his football in Denmark, and turned in a Player of the Match display as Vejle came from behind to claim all three points in the Danish Superliga on Sunday.