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The new AFC Champions League Elite competition kicks off with a blockbuster West Zone matchup as Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Ahli host Iranian heavyweights Persepolis at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
This clash is a rematch from last year’s Champions League semi-final which Persepolis edged on away goals after a pulsating two-legged tie. Expect fireworks and a raucous atmosphere as these bitter rivals resume hostilities with the highest stakes.
All eyes will be on the marquee attacking showdown between Al Ahli’s Syrian superstar Omar Al Somah and Persepolis’ Iranian international striker Mehdi Taremi. The two prolific frontmen were the top scorers in last season’s Champions League with 12 goals each. Their performance could prove decisive.
In midfield, Al Ahli’s creative hub Mohammad Al-Burayk will need to be at his assured best to control possession against Persepolis’ tenacious duo of Bashar Resan and Ahmad Nourollahi. Whichever side wins the central battle is likely to dictate the match’s tempo and creation of chances.
Al Ahli looked imperious in winning their fourth consecutive Saudi Pro League title, finishing 16 points clear. However, their pre-season has been disrupted by the high-profile departures of head coach Sergei Rebrov and key players like Djaniny.
Persepolis also had an unsettled summer with long-serving coach Yahya Golmohammadi making way for former UAE manager Bert Van Marwijk. The Red Army have looked rejuvenated in early season matches though, with new signing Karim Ansarifard already bagging four goals.
With some of Asia’s biggest names on show and a cauldron-like atmosphere guaranteed, this is a fixture no neutral can afford to miss. Persepolis’ know-how in these blockbuster clashes could edges it, but expect a dramatic, tension-filled 90 minutes befitting the grand new Champions League Elite stage.
