Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Betting Bonus up to $/€ 122
As part of the eighth round of the AFC Champions League main stage, a match between Persepolis and Al-Nassr will take place in Tehran on Monday, February 17. The game is scheduled to kick off at 17:00 Central European Time. I am placing my bet on the total goals scored in this game.
Match Preview
The decorated Iranian club has reached the AFC Champions League final twice in the past seven years but failed to win on both occasions. In recent seasons, the team has not been as dominant but still has a chance to advance to the knockout stage.
To achieve this, the Tehran-based club must defeat a star-studded Al-Nassr at home. It won't be an easy task, but a victory would secure a spot in the Round of 16, which would already be considered a great success.
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to win a trophy in Saudi Arabia, and considering Al-Nassr's current standing, there are concerns that he might miss out on the Pro League title again.
However, in the AFC Champions League, Al-Nassr has been impressive and has already secured qualification for the Round of 16. This final group-stage match is of little importance to them, as they are guaranteed to finish no lower than third place.
Match Facts
- Persepolis has lost three of its last six home matches.
- Al-Nassr has won six consecutive games.
- Persepolis averages 1.2 goals per game at home, while Al-Nassr averages 2 goals per game away from home.
Probable Lineups
- Persepolis: Ghandou, Faraji, Kanaani, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi, Rigi, Salmani, Rafiei, Ahmadzadeh, Adipour, Dursun.
- Al-Nassr: Bento, Al-Najdi, Layami, Simakan, Al-Ghannam, Al-Hassan, Mané, Brozović, Angelo, Duran, Ronaldo.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
In five previous meetings, Al-Nassr has won twice, Persepolis once, and two matches ended in a draw.
Prediction
The visitors might struggle with motivation since they have already secured their spot in the playoffs. However, there are doubts that Persepolis can defeat even this version of Al-Nassr. I’m betting on Ronaldo and company not to lose this match.
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