AFC Champions League: Round of 16: Al Jazira vs. Persepolis [Preview]
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...AFC – ABU DHABI, Al Jazira will play their first AFC Champions League knockout stage match since 2014 when they host 2017 semi-finalists Persepolis in the first leg of the Round of 16 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.
The Emirati side ended a 15-game winless run in the continental competition in February and went on to finish runners-up in Group A with strikers Ali Mabkhout and Romarinho netting eight of their nine goals between them.
Al Jazira’s domestic form has been poor of late as they ended their UAE Pro League season with a 4-1 defeat to Al Wahda. Since beating Al Gharafa in the group stage in early April, the Abu Dhabi side have lost four of the past five matches.
Persepolis wrapped up their second successive Iranian Pro League title some time ago and have been in fine form on the continent too, beating Al Sadd three weeks ago to finish top of Group C having won four of their six games.
Indeed, the Tehran side have not conceded on the continent since a Matchday Two defeat to Al Sadd and boast the meanest defence in the competition. Captain and key defender Jalal Hosseini, though, is suspended for the Monday’s clash.
