AFC Champions League: Round of 16: Persepolis FC vs. Al Jazira FC [Preview]

AFC – TEHRAN, Persepolis will need to overhaul a 3-2 AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg deficit against Al Jazira when the sides face off in the second leg at Azadi Stadium on Monday.

Ali Alipour gave the Iranian side the lead in Abu Dhabi last week but goals from Ali Mabkhout and Romarinho swung the tie in the Emirati team’s favour.

Godwin Mensha equalised from the spot but a 96th-minute winner from Khalifa Al Hammadi means Al Jazira travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran with a one-goal lead to defend.

Persepolis, who welcome captain Jalal Hosseini back from suspension, boast a perfect record on home soil this year and, in recent history, have twice beaten Emirati opposition at Azadi Stadium, seeing off Al Wahda 4-2 in the 2017 group stage and Al Wasl 2-0 in the group stage..

The visitors, meanwhile, have drawn two and lost one of their past three trips to Iran and have suffered just one loss on the road during this campaign. If they avoid defeat on Monday, they will progress to a maiden quarter-final on the continent.