David Flower
Dailysports's expert
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One of the matches in the 6th round of the AFC Champions League will be played in Dushanbe, where local team Istiklol will face Sepahan. I suggest a bet on the outcome of this match with an excellent coefficient.
Match Preview
The Dushanbe club has had a disastrous tournament and is currently in last place in Group C, with zero points from five matches. The team struggled to score in the first four games and only managed to find the back of the net in the last match, when Istiklol visited group leader Al-Sharja, losing 1-3.
In their domestic league, Istiklol Dushanbe secured their 11th consecutive championship, finishing ten points ahead of their main rival, Khujand. The team has been impressive in the league, having lost only once in 20 matches, securing 17 wins.
Meanwhile, Sepahan is in third place in Group C and is trailing second-place Al-Sharja by three points. The two teams have exchanged home wins with a 3-1 scoreline, and now, with points level, goal difference will decide who progresses. Sepahan must hope for a loss from Al-Sharja, as even a draw would make the latter uncatchable.
It’s worth noting that Sepahan has been unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, securing three wins during this run. In particular, in the Iranian Cup, the team defeated Pars Jonoubi Jam 2-0 away. Before that, they played a 1-1 draw at home with Nassaji Mazandaran in the league. Currently, Sepahan leads the Iranian Pro League, edging Persepolis by a single point.
Probable Line-ups
- Istiklol Dushanbe: Stosic, Suzuki, Larin, Kurbnov, Ilieski, Millar, Jallilov, Juraev, Panshambe, Kamolov, Mamatschoev
- Sepahan: Niazmand, Goudarzi, Khazbavi, Mohammadi, Hardani, N’Zonzi, Karimi, Limouci, Dabo, Yosefi, Rezaei
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Sepahan defeated Istiklol 4-0 in the first round.
- Only one of the last five matches involving Sepahan has resulted in a "Total Under 2.5" bet.
- In three of the last five matches involving Istiklol, the "Total Over 2.5" bet has been successful.
Prediction
Sepahan dominated the first round and will be highly motivated for a win. I believe the best option for this match is a "Sepahan win with a -1.0 handicap" at a coefficient of 1.65.
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