Saudi club Al Nasr host Iran’s Persepolis FC in Riyadh in the AFC Champions League as they look to secure a spot in the next round.
Quinn: Al Nasr vs Persepolis
when: Monday 27 November 2023 at 9pm (18:00 GMT)
Where: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In September, when Saudi Arabian Professional League team Al-Nasr Football Club visited Iran to face Tehran’s Persian Gulf Professional League team Persepolis Football Club in the opening game of the AFC Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo became one of the major players. Media headlines, fans and officials rushed to welcome the Portuguese star.
Fans tracked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s plane, waited for him at the airport, chased his bus, climbed a hill to his hotel and caused the Saudi club to cancel the first day of training.
Tehran’s city government welcomed Ronaldo and Al Nasr with huge banners in multiple languages, and the director of Persepolis gave the Portuguese star a handwoven Persian rug – and apparently a special SIM card, This gave him unrestricted access to the Internet – Ronaldo met with the Saudi ambassador to Iran.
Two months later, Iran will make a historic visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, the first visit since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
The Asian nation agreed a “groundbreaking” deal weeks before the Tehran game that wraps up home and away matches between clubs after seven years of playing at neutral venues.
In Tehran, fans were delighted to see Ronaldo among them, although the match was played behind closed doors and they did not get to see the 38-year-old.
“Although we couldn’t watch that match live because no spectators were allowed, it was nice to have international stars here. We haven’t had this for a long time,” Saman, a 24-year-old Persepolis fan, told Al Jazeera.
“It looks like we didn’t beat Ronaldo in the group stage, but it would be nice to win in Saudi Arabia,” Samman said.
However, Iran’s road to football diplomacy has been far from smooth.
Persepolis were due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Friday, but their flight was canceled because Saudi officials reportedly took issue with the airline transporting the players. The issue was resolved and the team arrived early Sunday.
In early October, a match between Sepahan and Al Ittihad was called off, with the AFC declaring the Saudi club a 3-0 winner because of the death of the top Iranian general assassinated by the United States in 2020. A bust of Qassem Soleimani was installed in the stadium. stadium.
ranking
Al Nasr tops the AFC Champions League Group E standings with four wins from four games and needs just one draw to advance to the next round.
Persepolis are in second place after four games, narrowly ahead of third-placed Isdy Krol and fourth-placed Al Duhail.
alnasr form
The Saudi side are in good form ahead of Monday’s match at Al Awwal Park Stadium, having recorded a series of wins in both the domestic league and regional competitions. Ronaldo came into the game after scoring twice in Al Nasr’s 3-0 win over Al Ahdoud on Friday.
Recent results: WWWW
persepolis form
Persepolis has been in poor form recently, with two draws and one loss in the home league. The last AFC Champions League match against Tajikistan Istiklal was a draw. The club, one of the oldest and most popular clubs in Iran, will be looking for a win on the field to make up for a 2-0 defeat at home in Tehran and secure their place as one of the best three second-tier teams in the Western Division one of the qualifications. of competition. They have seven points from four games.
Recent results: LDDW
head to head
The two teams have met four times in the competition so far, with the Saudi team having a slight advantage with two wins. Persepolis recorded one win in the 2015 AFC Champions League and the 2020 AFC Champions League clash ended in a draw.
Additional reporting by Maziar Motamedi in Tehran.