AFC Champions League Preview: Persepolis vs. Al Nassr Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Sep 18)

• Asia’s most popular club Persepolis is preparing a burning-hot welcome for Al Nassr.
• Al Nassr’s roster looks much, much better than the one of Persepolis FC.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr is traveling to Tehran to play against Persepolis in an AFC Champions League match. This is going to be the first time in seven years that a Saudi club is coming to Iran, some six months after the two Middle Eastern countries re-established diplomatic ties. The Persepolis vs. Al Nassr game will take place at Azadi Stadium in Iran’s capital on Tuesday, September 19.

How to Watch

• When: Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m ET
• Where: Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran
• How to Watch: Paramount+

Odds

Game Preview

As per the AFC, Persepolis is the most popular soccer club in the whole of Asia, with an estimated 40 million fans. Its home games are played at the 78,116-seat Azadi Stadium, which is more often than not completely sold out.

Knowing this, it’s clear that Al Nassr won’t get a warm welcome on Tuesday, but the good news for the fans of the Saudi heavyweight is that Al Nassr has some players who are used to this. Cristiano Ronaldo is this team’s captain and its most famous player, but he’s not the only superstar who made himself famous in Europe before moving to Saudi Arabia. There’s also Sadio Mane, Otavio, Marcelo Brozovic, Aymeric Laporte, and a few others.

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With those players on the field, Al Nassr looks capable of beating practically any opponent from Asia (and beyond). This is why it’s only logical to think of this team as a big favorite.

Persepolis vs. Al Nassr Prediction

Al Nassr will win this game, but it would be a field trip for the Saudis. Persepolis is going to go all-in on Tuesday, so expect the hosts to score a goal or two as well. Still, they probably won’t be able to score as many as CR7 & Co.

Free Pick: