The hosts are the clear favorites! Al-Ahli vs Persepolis Prediction
On Monday, one of the most intriguing matchups in the first round of the AFC Champions League will take place in Jeddah, where Al-Ahli will face Iranian side Persepolis at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Here’s a prediction from the Dailysports expert team.
Al-Ahli
The "Fortress of Trophies" finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, securing their spot in the AFC Champions League. However, they were far from challenging for the title, with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr both finishing at least 17 points ahead.
Al-Ahli kicked off the new season with a semifinal clash in the Saudi Super Cup against Al-Hilal, putting up a strong fight but losing in a penalty shootout. They opened their Pro League campaign with a 2-0 home victory over Al-Oruba, but have since collected just one point from two matches. After a 0-1 away defeat to Al-Fateh, they earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Al-Nassr last Friday.
Persepolis
The "Reds" are one of Iran's most decorated and successful clubs, and they reaffirmed their dominance by winning the Iranian Premier League last season. The title race went down to the final matchday, but Persepolis took advantage of a slip-up by Esteghlal Tehran to claim the crown by a single point.
However, Persepolis has struggled by their standards in the new season. They drew their first two matches, against Zob Ahan (1-1) and Tractor Sazi (1-1). Their first win came in the third round, a 2-0 home victory over Foolad. As a result, Persepolis sits sixth in the league table with five points from three matches.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History
- Persepolis exited the AFC Champions League in the group stage last season.
- Both teams scored in three of the last four meetings between these clubs.
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has landed in three of the last four encounters between them.
Al-Ahli vs Persepolis Prediction
Bookmakers are heavily backing the home side, with Al-Ahli priced at 1.32 to win. However, both teams have struggled to produce high-scoring games recently. A bet on “Under 3.0 total goals” at 1.80 seems a reasonable and cautious option for this match.
