Sepahan vs Al Hilal Match Analysis & Prediction
15/02/2024 7:00 pm
The first leg of the round-of-16 ties in the AFC Champions League concludes with Sepahan welcoming Al Hilal to Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium in Iran on Thursday.
Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Al Ittihad in their final group match, Sepahan narowly beat Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya for second place due to head-to-head points, while Al Ittihad went unbeaten in the opening stage, topping their group after a 2-1 victory over Nassaji Mazandaran.
By the thinnest of margins, Sepahan are through to the last 16 of this competition for the first time since 2011-12, ending the opening stage as one of the best second-placed finishers.
After going winless in their first two Champions League group matches, Sepahan came on strong near the tail end of that stage, winning three of their final four games, including their last two at home by a combined score of 10-0.
Jose Morais’ side has a perfect record in the group stage when scoring the opener while claiming just a single points after conceding the first goal.
A dramatic last-gasp equaliser in their opening group match at the Champions League served as a good wakeup call for Al Hilal, who cruised through the rest of the opening phase, winning their next five matches by a combined score of 15-1.
That 1-1 draw on matchday one was the only time in the opening round that Al Hilal were behind in this tournament, enabling them to progress into the last 16 for the third time over the past four Champions League campaigns.
Along with Al Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale, Jorge Jesus’ side were the only other side to finish the group stage of this competition unbeaten, while they wound up with the best goal difference in the opening phase (+16).
Al Hilal did not concede a single goal away from home in the Champions League group stage, winning all but one of their domestic matches on the road this season (1-1 draw with Damac).
Sepahan vs. Al Hilal Head to head
In the four previous meetings between these two teams, Sepahan have claimed two victories while Al Hilal have won one, and they have drawn once.
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01/03/2011Al Hilal1Sepahan2AFC Champions League
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04/05/2011Sepahan1Al Hilal1AFC Champions League
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12/03/2014Sepahan3Al Hilal2AFC Champions League
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22/04/2014Al Hilal1Sepahan0AFC Champions League
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15/02/2024SepahanN/AAl HilalN/AAFC Champions League
Sepahan Team News
On matchday six, Sepahan were without Mohammad Javad Hosseinnejad and Hadi Mohammadi through suspension after they each received straight red cards against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.
Kaveh Rezaei led them with three goals in the opening stage, coming on for Reza Asadi on matchday six to score their only goal of that game.
Sepahan's Last 5 Matches
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14/12/2023Sepahan3Foolad1Persian Gulf Pro League
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19/12/2023Havadar0Sepahan5Persian Gulf Pro League
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24/12/2023Sepahan0Aluminium Arak1Persian Gulf Pro League
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28/12/2023Gol Gohar3Sepahan1Persian Gulf Pro League
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01/01/2024Shams Azar Qazvin1Sepahan0Persian Gulf Pro League
Al Hilal Team News
Neymar is still strugling to return to full fitness, with the Al Hilal striker suffering a cruciate ligament tear sustained in October.
From matchday five to six, there were two changes made to their starting XI, with Salman Al-Faraj and Michael replacing Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mohammed Al-Qahtani.
Al Hilal's Last 5 Matches
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15/12/2023Al Hilal2Al Wehda0Saudi League
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21/12/2023Al Hilal7Abha0Saudi League
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29/12/2023Al Fayha0Al Hilal2Saudi League
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29/01/2024Al Hilal4Inter Miami3Club Friendlies
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08/02/2024Al Hilal2Al Nassr0Club Friendlies
Sepahan vs. Al Hilal: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 2
Best Odds
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