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Played
May 23, 2012 7:10 PM BST
Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium — Jeddah
Referee: V. Kovalenko
Attendance: 15300
May 23, 2012 7:10 PM BST
Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium — Jeddah
Referee: V. Kovalenko
Attendance: 15300
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| Ittihad | 1.00 | 1.67 | 1.70 | 1.02 | 1.63 |
| Draw | 36.00 | 3.75 | 3.30 | 12.00 | 3.60 |
| Persepolis FC | 71.00 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 40.00 | 5.10 |
Al Ittihad - Persepolis Preview: Saudi and Iranian giants set for knockout clash
Wednesday's Round of 16 clash pits two of West Asia's biggest clubs against one another, although the Tigers have a great recent history in the ACL, in direct contrast to Piroozi
By Ben Somerford & Pejman Rahbar
Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
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AL ITTIHAD
 Zayed Hazzazi, Asseri, Al Muwallad, Al Montashari Kariri, Abd Rabo Abousaban Abdelghani, Noor Hazazi |
PERSEPOLIS
 Avdokic
Aliasgar, Nosrati, Sheys Rezaei, Pooladi Badamaki, Zare Gholamreza Rezaei, Noori, Karimi Zayed |
Al Ittihad boss Raul Caneda has a strong side to choose from for this clash and it is likely he'll favour a 4-2-1-2-1 line-up with livewire Naif Hazazi at the top. The Tigers finished the group stage in top spot in Group B with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Al Arabi, with Moroccan attacker Abdelghani Faouzi scoring a stoppage-time winner. He's likely to be part of their attacking trio, alongside highly-rated Mohammed Noor and Hazazi too.
Persepolis have a few concerns with fitness worries for star attacker Ali Karimi, as well as full-back Mehrdad Pooladi and midfielder Saman Aghazamani, however it seems only the latter will miss the game. The team, who finished the 2011-12 Iranian season down in 12th, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday but there remains talk of internal problems among the players and coach Mustafa Denizli.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Al Ittihad have a fine ACL history having won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, while they were runners-up in 2009 and reached the final four in 2011.
- The Tigers' last piece of major silverware was back in 2010, when they lifted the Saudi Champions Cup. They haven't been domestic champions since 2009.
- In last year's ACL, these two sides were grouped together, with Al Ittihad winning 3-1 in Jeddah, while Persepolis triumphed 3-2 in Tehran.
- Persepolis may be one of Asia's best supported clubs but they have an underwhelming record on the continent, having never reached the decider before, while city rivals Esteghlal are four-time finalists.
- The Tehran giants reached consecutive Asian Club Championship semi-finals in the 1999-00 and 2000-01 editions, but under the current Champions League format have struggled with last year's Round of 16 effort their best in recent history.
- Piroozi coach Mustafa Denizli guided PAS Tehran to the ACL quarter-finals in 2005.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Al Ittihad 1-2 Persepolis FC
- 34.53 %
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Al Ittihad 1-3 Persepolis FC
- 10.77 %
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Al Ittihad 0-2 Persepolis FC
- 8.01 %
| Asian Champions League (ACL) | May 23, 2012 | Al Ittihad 3 - Persepolis FC 0 |
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Al Ittihad
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| Apr 27, 2013 | Al-Shoalah 1 - Al Ittihad 0 | KSA1 |
| Apr 18, 2013 | Al Ittihad 1 - Al-Shabab 2 | KSA1 |
| Apr 14, 2013 | Al Ittihad 2 - Najran 0 | KSA1 |
| Mar 29, 2013 | Al Hilal 4 - Al Ittihad 2 | KSA1 |
| Mar 9, 2013 | Al Ittihad 2 - Al Taawon 1 | KSA1 |
Persepolis FC
 |
||
| May 10, 2013 | Tractor Sazi 3 - Persepolis FC 1 | IRN1 |
| Apr 29, 2013 | Persepolis FC 1 - Malavan 0 | IRN1 |
| Apr 12, 2013 | Zob Ahan 1 - Persepolis FC 1 | IRN1 |
| Mar 31, 2013 | Paykan 1 - Persepolis FC 2 | IRN1 |
| Mar 15, 2013 | Persepolis FC 2 - Sanat Mes Kerman 2 | IRN1 |
| Returns: | Ittihad £16.70 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Draw £360.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Persepolis FC £710.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
| 1 | Zayed Mabrouk | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Reda Takar | Defender |
| 33 | Osama Al Moualad | Defender |
| 21 | Hamad Al-Montashari | Defender |
| - | Abdulla Omar | Defender |
| 14 | Saud Khariri | Midfielder |
| 28 | Mohammed Abo Sabaan | Midfielder |
| 8 | Hosni Abd Rabou | Midfielder |
| 15 | Abdoh Autef | Midfielder |
| 9 | Naif Hazazi | Striker |
| - | Abdelghani Faouzi | Striker |
| - | Ali Al Mazyadi | Goalkeeper |
| 30 | Ibrahem Hazazi | Defender |
| 16 | Moshiel Al Sayed | Defender |
| - | Ahmad Asiri | Defender |
| - | Maan Khodary | Midfielder |
| 18 | Mohammed Noor | Midfielder |
| - | Fabrice Nguessi Ondama | Striker |
| - | Asmir Avdukić | Goalkeeper |
| - | Sheys Rezaei | Defender |
| 20 | Alireza Noormohammadi | Defender |
| - | Hamidreza Ali Asgari | Defender |
| 3 | Mehrdad Pooladi | Midfielder |
| 8 | Ali Kharmi | Midfielder |
| 36 | M. Zare | Midfielder |
| 10 | Gholam-Reza Rezaei | Midfielder |
| - | H. Badamaki | Midfielder |
| - | Mohammad Noori | Midfielder |
| - | Éamon Zayed | Striker |
| - | Misagh Memarzadeh | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | Amir Hossain Feshangchi | Defender |
| - | Mohammad Nosrati | Defender |
| - | Ali Reza Mohammad | Defender |
| 19 | Mehdi Mahdavikia | Midfielder |
| 16 | Vahid Hashemian | Striker |
| 24 | Hadi Noroozi | Striker |
| Mohammed Noor | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 18 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Saudi Arabia international midfielder has the ability to turn the game with a moment's brilliance. Noor will be given a licence by Caneda to play freely and could be the key attacking cog for the Tigers.
| Ali Kharmi | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 8 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Piroozi's superstar may have reportedly had some off-field dramas this term, but remains the team's best player. Karimi's attacking threat means Al Ittihad will need to be on their toes.
The Saudi Arabian giants have a proud record in Asia and at home against a Persepolis side who battled through the 2011-12 Iranian league campaign, they must be considered hot favourites. Raul Caneda's side have the firepower in Naif Hazazi and Mohammed Noor to get the job done comfortably.
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wagner Ribeiro Midfielder Al Jaish |
7 | 0 |
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Muriqui Striker Guangzhou Evergrande |
7 | 0 |
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Djibril Cissé Striker Al Gharafa |
4 | 1 |
|
Sebastián Soria Striker Lekhwiya |
4 | 0 |
|
Youssef Msakni Striker Lekhwiya |
4 | 0 |
