Saudi membership Al Nassr host Iran’s Persepolis FC for his or her AFC Champions League match in Riyadh as they appear to guide a spot within the subsequent spherical.
Who: Al Nassr vs Persepolis
When: Monday, November 27, 2023, 9pm (18:00 GMT)
The place: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When Saudi Professional League workforce Al Nassr FC visited Iran to play Tehran-based Persian Gulf Professional League aspect Persepolis FC of their opening match of the AFC Champions League in September, Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines as followers and officers scrambled to welcome the Portuguese star.
Followers tracked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s aircraft, waited for him on the airport, chased his bus, climbed a hill to the lodge the place he was staying, and made the Saudi membership cancel its coaching on the primary day.
Tehran’s municipality put up giant banners welcoming Ronaldo and Al Nassr in a number of languages, the Persepolis director gave the Portuguese star a handwoven Persian carpet – and apparently a particular SIM card so he might have unrestricted web entry – and Ronaldo met with the Saudi ambassador to Iran.
Two months on, the Iranian aspect are making a historic journey to the Saudi capital Riyadh – their first for the reason that resumption of diplomatic relations between each international locations.
The Asian nations agreed to a “groundbreaking” deal, brokered just a few weeks earlier than the match in Tehran, to renew dwelling and away soccer matches between membership sides after seven years of competing at impartial venues.
In Tehran, followers have been delighted to have Ronaldo of their midst regardless of not catching a glimpse of the 38-year-old because the match was performed behind closed doorways.
“Although we couldn’t go watch that match dwell as a result of no spectators have been allowed, it was nonetheless good to have worldwide stars right here. We haven’t had that for a protracted whereas,” Saman, a 24-year-old Persepolis fan, advised Al Jazeera.
“It doesn’t appear to be we’re beating Ronaldo within the group stage, however it might be good to get a win in Saudi Arabia,” Saman mentioned.
Soccer diplomacy has gone removed from easily for Iran, although.
Persepolis have been scheduled to reach within the kingdom on Friday, however their flight was cancelled, reportedly as a result of Saudi officers took challenge with the airline that was getting used to move the gamers. The difficulty was resolved and the workforce arrived early Sunday.
An early October match between Sepahan and Al Ittihad was cancelled – and finally declared a 3-0 win for the Saudi membership by the AFC – as a result of a bust of Qassem Soleimani, the highest Iranian basic assassinated by the USA in 2020, was put in on the stadium.
Standings
Al Nassr sit atop the AFC Champions League Group E desk with 4 wins out of 4 and solely want a draw to verify their progress to the following spherical.
Persepolis are positioned second after 4 matches, with a slim lead over third-placed Istiklol and fourth-placed Al Duhail.
Al Nassr type
The Saudi aspect are in prolific type forward of Monday’s tie on the Al-Awwal Park Stadium and have loved a string of wins in each of their home league and the regional competitors. Ronaldo goes into the match on the again of a two-goal outing in Al Nassr’s 3-0 win over Al Akhdoud on Friday.
Current outcomes: W W W W W
Persepolis type
Persepolis are in the midst of a poor run of type, with a loss and two attracts of their dwelling league and a draw of their final AFC Champions League match in opposition to Tajik aspect Istiklol. The membership – one of many oldest and hottest in Iran – will search for a victory on the pitch to make up for the 2-0 dwelling loss in Tehran and safe qualification as one of many three greatest second-placed groups from the West Zone of the competitors. They’ve seven factors from 4 matches.
Current outcomes: L D D D W
Head-to-head
The groups have now met on 4 events within the competitors, and the Saudi aspect maintain a slight edge with two wins. Persepolis have recorded one win, within the 2015 AFC Champions League, and their assembly within the 2020 version led to a draw.
With further reporting by Maziar Motamedi in Tehran.
