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Persepolis and Al-Nassr played out a goalless draw in their AFC Champions League Elite clash.
Persepolis and Al-Nassr in AFC Champions League Elite (X)
A much-changed Al Nassr Club held Persepolis FC to a goalless stalemate on Monday to put the Islamic Republic of Iran side’s AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 knockout stage hopes in jeopardy.
The draw took Persepolis up to eighth spot in the West Zone standings but Qatar’s Al Gharafa SC and fellow Iranian side Esteghlal FC will overtake them with victories in their final matches.
The home side would have been boosted by the sight of Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte on Al Nassr’s bench with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jhon Duran not part of the matchday squad, as they looked to get an early opener.
Milad Mohammadi made a great surging run from the left back position in the eighth minute, drove into the penalty box before firing a low cross that a sliding Farshad Ahmadzadeh at the far post knocked wide with Al Nassr keeper Raghid Najjar rooted to his spot.
The early Persepolis spark died down gradually as the first half progressed with Marcelo Brozovic starting to dictate matters in the middle of the pitch for the away side but the Iranian side recovered to finish the half strongly.
Mohammad Khodabandelho fired a shot from the edge of the box which had Najjar at full stretch to tip around the post in the 34th minute before Hossein Kanani and Omid Alishah had weaker attempts that were easily dealt with as the tie remained goalless going into the break.
It took a while for the second half to get going, with the wet conditions at Azadi Stadium gifting a shooting chance for Serdar Dusun after Brozovic slipped in possession but the Turkish forward sliced his shot well wide of the goal just before the hour mark.
Minutes later, Al Nassr came close to breaking the deadlock, when Angelo was put through on goal but Alexis Guendouz was alert to the situation to make the initial block before pouncing on the loose ball before Brozovic could do any damage.
