The 105th Tehran Derby is set to electrify Azadi Stadium as Persepolis and Esteghlal football teams face off in what’s shaping up to be an exhilarating showdown. Scheduled for Thursday, and with referee Payam Heydari officiated the match, this highly anticipated clash between Iran’s football giants is bound to be a spectacle for fans across the nation and beyond.
Both teams have had underwhelming seasons, with Persepolis sitting third on the league table with 38 points and Esteghlal lagging behind at seventh with 26 points. Nevertheless, the Tehran derby is no ordinary match; it’s imbued with pride and rivalry, and the winners will bask in joy long after the final whistle blows, whereas the losers face intense scrutiny.
Known commonly as the “Reds” and “Blues”, Persepolis and Esteghlal meet for this high-stakes match as part of Week 21 of Iran’s Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) at Azadi Stadium. Persepolis boasts psychological strength, having not lost to Esteghlal in the last 17 derbies, exemplifying their historical dominance and providing them with confidence going forward. The experience of their players adds another layer to their advantage.
Currently led by experienced Turkish head coach Ismail Kartal, Persepolis aims to close the six-point gap with league leaders Tractor and maintain their title defense efforts. On the other hand, Esteghlal is grappling with managerial instability—having seen multiple coaches this season, they will be directed by veteran coach Firouz Karimi for this derby after the club couldn’t finalize arrangements with Italian coach Walter Mazzarri.
Despite the internal chaos, Esteghlal enters the match motivated to overturn the current trend, and the unpredictable nature of the Tehran derby means any team can claim victory regardless of their league standings. To heighten the excitement, the top two clubs, Tractor and Sepahan, will also be competing on the same day, making it monumental for the future of the league.
The stakes are equally high for both clubs, each determined to emerge victorious. Persepolis will feature key players like goalkeeper Alexis Gunduz and established defenders such as Milad Mohammadi, Georgi Golsyani, and Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan. For Esteghlal, the lineup is poised to include star players like goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini, defender Rafael Silva, and midfielder Arash Rezaei.
Adding to their challenges, Esteghlal will be without their recent signees, and are encumbered by the formidable legacy of their opponents. Fans are anticipating how Esteghlal will handle the pressure against their archrivals and if they can alive the spirits of their supporters, yearning for triumph at this historic football event.
Whether the outcome leans toward the dominant history of Persepolis or the desire of Esteghlal to overturn their misfortunes, one can be sure both teams will leave everything on the pitch. With both clubs’ long-standing tradition of fierce rivalry, the electric atmosphere at Azadi Stadium is something football fans will not want to miss.
The next chapter of this gripping rivalry awaits, promising moments of tenacity, passion, and the sheer unpredictability of the Tehran derby. With the weight of history and the fervor of their fans on their side, both teams are poised to make this clash one of the most memorable events of the season.