Al Hilal Not to Take Sepahan Lightly: 2023-24 ACL
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Al Hilal SFC is not going to take Sepahan FC lightly in the AFC Champions League 2023-24 Round of 16 return leg at the Kingdom Arena on Thursday.
Sepahan squandered a first half lead in the first leg, with four-time Asian champion Al Hilal eventually emerging 3-1 winner, courtesy of late goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Abdullah Al Hamddan after Malcom had cancelled out Ramin Rezaeian’s opener.
Al Hilal's form has been impressive, with the Riyadh-based club notching a 13th consecutive win in the Saudi Pro League 2023/24 over the weekend and will undoubtedly have the momentum against its opponent from Iran.
Al Hilal has been scoring for fun this season with Mitrovic - who scored a brace in their 3-1 win against Al Raed in the Saudi Pro League - leading their charge.
It will be a weakened Sepahan aiming to overturn the first leg deficit with the Iranian side to miss key defender Mohammed Daneshgar.
Daneshgar's red card in the first leg was followed by Al Hilal's two late goals and head coach Jose Morais will be forced to change things up to revive their hopes of advancing.