Persepolis vs Esteghlal Khuzestan both tried to get up after receiving last week’s defeat. Of course the hosts are more favored because they play at home, Azadi Stadium, especially if they still occupy a position in the top flight.

Persepolis arrived at home to Foolad Khuzestan on Sunday (10/2) and then to appear on match day 17 only to acknowledge the home side’s advantage through the score 2-1. This defeat also made them down to runner-up ranks, replaced by Sepahan who won a landslide victory over Sepidrood Rasht.

Apart from the disaster, Persepolis is still a participant with the best home record after bagging 7 wins and 2 draws. In fact, the aggregate goal is now 14-3 after scoring 2 goals without reply to Padideh FC earlier this month.

Esteghlal will be overwhelmed to overcome the record after never winning to 6 matches in a row as a result of a single goal from Padideh last Sunday (10/2). In fact, these results specifically make Esteghlal have never won away this season with 4 draws and 4 defeats with a 14-4 aggregate.

Such a bad record can only help Esteghlal occupy 15th place out of a total of 17 participants, while Persepolis is determined to immediately return to the top with just one point difference. Draw 0-0 closed the match at Esteghlal last August, while the last 3 games at Azadi were all won by the hosts with a score of 2-0, 1-0 and 1-0. So, there is also a tradition of clean sheets that must be maintained.

Our Prediction: 1