2018 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

[Amin_]

Oh wow..You guys are actually thinking this Al Hilal team was as strong as it was last year.
Esteghlal did great topping this difficult group but Al Hilal were a joke in this group. Not even close to resembling to a typical Al Hilal team

I can agree that they might not be as strong as they used to be before, but they're still no joke and are topping the Saudi league and will most likely become the champions.


Anyway, let's not argue about Saudi teams on this great day where 2 of our teams topped their group. Something that has not happened for a long time. Let's just enjoy this moment and be proud of our teams.

[PersianLegion]

In all honestly, I congratulate SS fans for their performance in PGPL and ACL but you should not forget the fact that Al Hilal in this year competition was not comparable with last year. Even the Saudi fans are admitting to this fact. Their key players are in Europe to boost up their NT. They have been suffering from this even in their local league. Al Hilal was hit harder after they fired their coach Diaz.

Overall, We need to see both SS and Persepolis to put up a good show in ACL (to boost up our coefficient and claim our true place among Asian clubs) and in PGPL (to have entertaining league matches and high quality play). If both PP and SS are strong it will help the league ad NT just like in late 90s and early 2000s. I hope Zob, Foolad and Sep catch up as well.

[Leopard]

Congratulations to both mihani teams. Sadegh moharrami and Jabarov were amazing. Taremi was definitely missed. He should go to Europe or come back next season. Hopefully Zob can win tomorrow and make Esteghlal 's next match easier. All young mihani coaches should go to Azadegan league and if they promote a team to PGL then they can earn respect to coach PGL team. None can be as good as Bronko or Schafer so they need to know this.

[Leopard]

The Qatari players were freezing against PP. They were not used to chilly weather going from 35 degrees to 15. In the future give them cold places such Turkemanistan, Tajikestan, Uzbekistan and any place north should be chosen for sauddi matches. Kwwait was better than Oman since it is closer and mihani fan can go there easily.

[naderb94]

I will agree that Al Hilal is not even close to being as good as last year. I don't even think Omar Khrbin played in any of the group games.
Either way, Saudi is basically down to one team and hopefully PP/SS can avoid them so the road to the finals come through Azadi this time.

[Kian Persepolis]

I will agree that Al Hilal is not even close to being as good as last year. I don't even think Omar Khrbin played in any of the group games.
Either way, Saudi is basically down to one team and hopefully PP/SS can avoid them so the road to the finals come through Azadi this time.

Yo what happened to Omar Kharbin btw? Is he injured or something?

[GolfePersique]

Kwwait was better than Oman since it is closer and mihani fan can go there easily.

It is not easy for Iranians to go to Kuwait, but there is a big Iranian community in Kuwait, some of them being citizens, but still very proud Persians.
If you notice most their chants were "Iran" rather than Esteghlal.
Great to see such support for our teams in the Persian Gulf region.

[Ali Doust]

Yo what happened to Omar Kharbin btw? Is he injured or something?

Yes he's been injured for awhile.

[Keano]

So Just because Esteghlal beat al-hilal, this means that al-hilal is weak?? Al-hilal is the same strength. Esteghlal is a beast this year. I don't see any other team Al-Duhail included that can beat a full strength Esteghlal (not todays team) Esteghlals only challenge will be in the finals this year.

Without remotely trying to take away the importance of Esteghlal win and topping this tough group, one would honestly have to agree that this Al Hilal was much weaker than last year's Al Hilal. I would have said the same, had Perspolis been in Esteghlal's position as well. Truth must be told, regardless of circumstances!

Congrats to both team. Hopefully Zob will also make us happy and proud tomorrow!

[naderb94]

Yo what happened to Omar Kharbin btw? Is he injured or something?

He got injured in January.. He is pretty much their entire attack, so I see why Al Hilal barely scored goals

[Ali Doust]

Without remotely trying to take away the importance of Esteghlal win and topping this tough group, one would honestly have to agree that this Al Hilal was much weaker than last year's Al Hilal. I would have said the same, had Perspolis been in Esteghlal's position as well. Truth must be told, regardless of circumstances!

Congrats to both team. Hopefully Zob will also make us happy and proud tomorrow!

And Just look at how many players Esteghlal was missing today.
-Omid Ebrahimi
-Roozbeh Cheshmi
-Majid Hosseini
-Mehdi Ghaeidi
-Mohsen Karimi
-Padovani
-Farshid Bagheri (went down in first 5min)

Teams will always have injuries. To say Al-Hilal was stronger last year, well Esteghlal was sporting a weak squad also.

[Leicester City]

Esteghlal got a new manager that is the answer. You can see a difference in the Esteghlal players expression, they were looking more serious and not fucking around.

[diz]

when are the dates/times for the next round?

[PersianLegion]

And Just look at how many players Esteghlal was missing today.
-Omid Ebrahimi
-Roozbeh Cheshmi
-Majid Hosseini
-Mehdi Ghaeidi
-Mohsen Karimi
-Padovani
-Farshid Bagheri (went down in first 5min)
Teams will always have injuries. To say Al-Hilal was stronger last year, well Esteghlal was sporting a weak squad also.

You forgot Hanif Omranzadeh, Hussein Kanani, Adel Shihi, Propic, Kaveh Rezai, Arash Afshin, ...

Joke aside, we count only key players and people you have listed can not play all at the same time. Ghaedi has not played for SS last season and this season for a long time. Out of all players you listed Omid Ebrahimi and Cheshmi are key players.

[Ali Doust]

You forgot Hanif Omranzadeh, Hussein Kanani, Adel Shihi, Propic, Kaveh Rezai, Arash Afshin, ...

Joke aside only we count only key players can and people you have listed can not play all at the same time. Ghaedi has not played for SS last season and this season for a long time. Out of all players you listed Omid Ebrahimi and Cheshmi are key players.

Majid Hosseini has been very vital for the team this season.