Persepolis vs Esteghlal can be IPL title decider

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Iran Professional League (IPL) leaders Persepolis will meet Esteghlal on Saturday and history shows that the outcome of such matches can make a big difference when the points are tallied at the end of the season.

Esteghlal and Persepolis, Tehran based giants, will battle it out together at the 80,000-capacity Azadi Stadium on Saturday.

Persepolis, as the best Iranian team in the last three years, know that a win in Tehran derby would move them five points clear, however, there is two other teams hunting to win the title.

Sepahan and Tractor Sazi are third and fourth both with 43 points and winning the title for Persepolis for the third successive year depends on what happens in their remaining seven matches.

Persepolis Nigerian forward Godwin Mensha, who has joined Esteghlal in January, is highly-motivated to prove his potentials to his former club, however, Esteghlal will be without their iconic midfielders Humam Tariq and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh who have been sidelined due to foot injury.

Persepolis defender Ali Mosleh has also missed the match with an injury.

Whatever happens in Tehran derby, there will be many more points left to play but you cannot underestimate the power of these deciders in shaping the title destiny.

History shows how different things could be if the big matches had gone the other way.