News ID: 187

Date: 06 August 2024 - 15:46

AFC Champions League Elite

Preview - Preliminary Stage 1: Sepahan FC (IRN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

The AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 gets underway on Tuesday with Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan FC hosting Shabab Al Ahli in a preliminary stage encounter.

At stake will be a spot in the next stage of the preliminaries, with the winners to face Qatar's Al Gharafa on August 13 to earn a spot in the West league stage.

Both teams will be determined to not let rust derail their ambitions, with their respective domestic seasons yet to kick off.

Sepahan, who featured in the AFC Champions League 2023/24, underwent a two-week training stint in Turkey in preparation for Tuesday's encounter.

The first of the #ACLElite Preliminary Round participants 🇮🇷

Will Sepahan make it their 15th appearance in the premier competition this season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/74mkS2NVDC
— #ACLElite & #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) August 3, 2024

The home side, who earned their spot by virtue of winning the 2023/24 Hazfi Cup for a fifth time, have appeared on Asia’s pinnacle club stage on 14 occasions – the most by a club from Iran. The five-time league champions were runners-up in the AFC Champions League 2007 and reached the Round of 16 last season.

Shabab Al Ahli will be unfazed by the prospect of facing Sepahan away, with the Dubai-based club having strengthened their ranks ahead of the upcoming season.

An exciting addition is Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun, who has joined from German side Bayer Leverkusen.

Shabab Al Ahli, who prepared for the match with a training stint in Austria, qualified for the preliminary stage after finishing as the UAE Pro League 2023/24 runners-up.

Sepahan FC (IRN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Venue: Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium (Isfahan)

Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:45 (UTC+3:30)