International Courant
Saudi membership Al Nassr will host Iranian facet Persepolis FC for his or her AFC Champions League match in Riyadh as they appear to e book their place within the subsequent spherical.
Who: Al Nassr vs. Persepolis
When: Monday, November 27, 2023, 9:00 PM (6:00 PM GMT)
The place: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When Saudi Professional League group Al Nassr FC visited Iran to play Persepolis FC of the Persian Gulf Professional League of their opening match of the AFC Champions League in September, Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines as followers and officers rushed to see the Portuguese star to welcome.
Followers adopted the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s airplane, waited for him on the airport, chased his bus, climbed a hill to the resort the place he was staying and compelled the Saudi membership to cancel coaching on the primary day.
The Tehran municipality put up giant banners welcoming Ronaldo and Al Nassr in numerous languages, the director of Persepolis gave the Portuguese star a hand-woven Persian carpet – and apparently a particular SIM card so he may have limitless web entry – and Ronaldo met with the Saudi Ambassador to Iran.
Two months later, Iran makes a historic journey to the Saudi capital Riyadh – the primary for the reason that resumption of diplomatic relations between the 2 nations.
The Asian nations agreed to a “groundbreaking” deal, struck simply weeks earlier than the match in Tehran, to renew dwelling and away matches between the golf equipment after seven years of enjoying at impartial venues.
In Tehran, followers had been completely happy 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.
“Despite the fact that we could not watch that match reside as a result of spectators weren’t allowed, it was nonetheless good to have worldwide stars right here. We have not had that for a very long time,” Saman, a 24-year-old Persepolis fan, advised Al Jazeera.
“It does not seem like we’ll beat Ronaldo within the group stage, however it might be good to win in Saudi Arabia,” Saman stated.
Nonetheless, soccer diplomacy has been removed from easy for Iran.
Persepolis was resulting from arrive within the kingdom on Friday however their flight was cancelled, reportedly as a result of Saudi officers had a falling out with the airline used to move the gamers. The issue was resolved and the group arrived early on Sunday.
A match between Sepahan and Al Ittihad in early October was canceled – 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 normal assassinated by america in 2020, was put in on the stadium.
Standings
Al Nassr prime the AFC Champions League Group E desk with 4 wins out of 4 and solely want a draw to substantiate their progress to the subsequent spherical.
Persepolis is in second place after 4 matches, narrowly forward of third-place Istiklol and fourth-place Al Duhail.
Al Nassr kind
The Saudi facet are in productive kind forward of Monday’s tie at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, having accomplished a string of wins in each their home and regional competitions. Ronaldo goes into the match on the again of a two-goal haul in Al Nassr’s 3-0 win over Al Akhdoud on Friday.
Latest outcomes: WWWWW
Persepolis form
Persepolis are within the midst of a poor run of kind, with a defeat and two attracts of their dwelling league match and a draw of their final AFC Champions League match in opposition to Tajik facet Istiklol. The membership – one of many oldest and hottest in Iran – will probably be in search of an on-field win to make up for the 2-0 dwelling defeat in Tehran and qualify as one of many prime three second-placed groups from the West Zone. of the competitors. They’ve seven factors from 4 video games.
Latest outcomes: LDDDW
Head-to-head
The groups have now met 4 occasions within the competitors, and the Saudi facet holds a slim lead with two wins. Persepolis have recorded one win within the 2015 AFC Champions League, with their assembly within the 2020 version ending in a draw.
With extra reporting by Maziar Motamedi in Tehran.
Al Nassr vs Persepolis – AFC Champions League Group E match preview | Soccer information
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