National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Esteghlal or Persepolis that keep their silverware dream alive.
This is a match between two teams close to each other, usually meaning more stress and importance.
Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.
Esteghlal form and stats
Last season their Hazfi Cup adventure ended in the quarter-finals.30 points is a decent return from 15 Persian Gulf Pro League games here at Azadi Stadium for Esteghlal. The data says 8 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss.
Esteghlal's previous fixture was a Hazfi Cup game also played at home, finishing 4-0 versus Nassaji Mazandaran. The home team are looking to repeat that performance.
Previous to that game, a Persian Gulf Pro League home match hosting Tractor Sazi in a game that was won 7-1.Goals decide football matches and Esteghlal are scoring many of them at home; 32 on target from 15 league matches. From these home matches, Esteghlal have conceded only 11 goals. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 1 of these goals has been conceded in their last three home matches.
Persepolis form and stats
They also participated in Hazfi Cup last season. This ended in the quarter-finals.Persepolis's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Persepolis collect 36 points from their 15 away matches in the Persian Gulf Pro League. 11 victories and 3 draws have created these points (and only 1 defeat).
The Persepolis goalkeeper is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 387 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
Two away games in a row for Persepolis, whose coach Golmohammadi could celebrate last time after the Hazfi Cup win against Havadar.
Ahead of that match was the victory versus Nassaji Mazandaran at their stadium, the result 4-0.Persepolis are not goal shy away from home in the league, finding the net 25 times in 15 away games so far. Persepolis are defending well in their away games, having conceded only 9 times in 15 matches. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
Persepolis have won or drawn the last 12 fixtures (4-8-0) facing Esteghlal.Top Goalscorers
  M. Ghaedi 12 goals | M. Mohebi 8 goals |  A. Yamga 7 goals |
Esteghlal missing players
Persepolis missing players
| Esteghlal | Persepolis | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 17 | 9 | Won | W | 10 | 18 | ||
| 5 | 4 | Drew | D | 1 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | ||
| 50 | 35 | Scored | S | 26 | 48 | ||
| 17 | 8 | Conceded | C | 10 | 16 | ||
| 92% | 85% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | ||
| 72% | 85% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 56% | ||
| 44% | 62% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 58% | 52% | ||
| 28% | 46% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 50% | 36% | ||
| 12% | 15% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 12% | ||
| 44% | 54% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 36% | ||
| 48% | 46% | Clean Sheets | C S | 42% | 52% | ||
| 16% | 15% | Failed to Score | F T | 8% | 20% | ||
| 4.2 | 6 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 1.9 | 2.8 | ||
| 3 | 4.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0.4 | 1.8 | ||
| 1.6 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.1 | 1.1 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 3 | ||
| 8.6 | 11.6 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 2.2 | 4.8 | ||
| 4.9 | 7.2 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 1.3 | 2.6 | ||
| 46% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 162% | 73% | ||
| 4.6 | 6.2 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 1.2 | 4 | ||
| 1.8 | 2.8 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 0.7 | 1.9 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Persepolis | 30 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 9 | 33 | 66 |
| 2 | Sepahan | 30 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 32 | 65 |
| 3 | Esteghlal | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 52 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 11 | 30 | 62 |
| 4 | Tractor Sazi | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 42 | 34 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 24 | 8 | 52 |
| 5 | Mes Rafsanjan | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 29 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 47 |
| 6 | Gol Gohar | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 36 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 4 | 45 |
| 7 | Aluminium Arak | 30 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 40 |
| 8 | Foolad | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 27 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 40 |
| 9 | Zob Ahan | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 25 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 36 |
| 10 | Havadar | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 19 | -10 | 33 |
| 11 | Paykan | 30 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 28 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 19 | -16 | 28 |
| 12 | Malavan | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 23 | -19 | 27 |
| 13 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 30 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 26 | 44 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 28 | -18 | 26 |
| 14 | Sanat Naft | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 36 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -14 | 25 |
| 15 | Mes Kerman | 30 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 23 | 37 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 18 | -14 | 22 |
| 16 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 30 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 22 | 59 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 33 | -37 | 20 |
