Esteghlal, Pakhtakor to Square Off Just for Win
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Victory is the only option Esteghlal and Pakhtakor have when they square off in their AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 tie on Monday.
Iran's Esteghlal is in eighth place in the standings with three points while Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor - on two points - is 10th with the top eight teams to advance to the knockout stage from the West Zone.
Three defeats have followed Esteghlal's opening day 3-0 win against Qatar's Al Gharafa and another loss would make it its longest run without victory on the continental stage. It has been struggling domestically as well, sitting 10th in the standings on 11 points, 10 behind pacesetter Sepahan.
Goals have also been hard to come by as its last three matches ended without Esteghlal finding the back of the net and it desperately needs to have its shooting boots on against Pakthakor if it is to challenge for a knockout stage berth.
The Uzbekistan side, has also found the going tough with a run of two draws and two defeats and will head into the tie having not beaten teams from Iran on the continental stage in its last six meetings.
The head-to-head is, however, in Pakhtakor's favor with two wins in its previous three meetings but it has been a difficult season for the team on the domestic and continental stages, with a 2-0 loss to AGMK on Thursday its ninth defeat in the Uzbekistan Super League.
The match will be held in Dubai’s Rashid Stadium.