National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Esteghlal or Sepahan that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Esteghlal nor Sepahan as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Esteghlal form and stats
Esteghlal participated in Hazfi Cup the last season, where they reached the 8th finals.Esteghlal have performed here at Azadi Stadium this season with 8 wins from 14 Persian Gulf Pro League matches. Some points have been lost, as they have drawn 4 games and lost 2.
The home team returns to Azadi Stadium after being equal after 90 minutes with Padideh Khorasan on their last time out; the Persian Gulf Pro League game ended 2-2. Before that game, the 2-1 home victory against Sepahan.
The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Esteghlal have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found one match with the results: Won one, drawn zero and lost zero.
A decent goal production from Esteghlal in their home games so far, with 24 goals from 14 league matches. Esteghlal are not conceding a lot of goals here at Azadi Stadium in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 11 from 14 matches.
Sepahan form and stats
Sepahan's mission in Hazfi Cup last season failed in the semi-finals.3 wins, 8 draws and 3 losses. That’s the product of Sepahan playing as the away team in the Persian Gulf Pro League this season. Travelling has not been lucrative for the away team as they have returned home without a win in ten away games in a row.
Sepahan failed to get anything from their last game, a Persian Gulf Pro League home match vs Nassaji Mazandaran that ended with defeat 0-1. Preceding that game, the 1-2 loss visiting Esteghlal's place.
So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Sepahan playing away and similar expectations, we found ten relevant matches. Results were two Sepahan wins, four draws and four defeats.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Sepahan have scored 16 goals in 14 league games away. They concede less than a goal on average per away game (13 so far).
Head 2 Head
H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Esteghlal six wins, three draws and Sepahan one victory. As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  C. Diabaté 13 goals |  M. Ghaedi 9 goals |  K. Soares Ferraz 7 goals |
Esteghlal missing players
Sepahan missing players
| Esteghlal | Sepahan | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 13 | 8 | Won | W | 2 | 10 | ||
| 8 | 3 | Drew | D | 7 | 10 | ||
| 4 | 1 | Lost | L | 4 | 5 | ||
| 50 | 24 | Scored | S | 15 | 36 | ||
| 25 | 8 | Conceded | C | 16 | 22 | ||
| 96% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 77% | 84% | ||
| 88% | 83% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 77% | 76% | ||
| 64% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 46% | 40% | ||
| 32% | 17% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 23% | 20% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 8% | ||
| 64% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 54% | 44% | ||
| 32% | 42% | Clean Sheets | C S | 38% | 48% | ||
| 8% | 8% | Failed to Score | F T | 31% | 24% | ||
| 5.3 | 6.3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3.8 | 4.8 | ||
| 4.2 | 3.6 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.6 | 3.9 | ||
| 1.7 | 2.1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.9 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 3 | ||
| 267 | 118 | Total Shots | T S | 106 | 274 | ||
| 124 | 53 | Shots on Target | S O | 41 | 98 | ||
| 38% | 40% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 32% | 35% | ||
| 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 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 5 | 27 | 63 |
| 2 | Esteghlal | 28 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 50 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 49 |
| 3 | Tractor Sazi | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 46 |
| 4 | Foolad | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 46 |
| 5 | Sepahan | 28 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 36 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 45 |
| 6 | Padideh Khorasan | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 45 |
| 7 | Sanat Naft | 27 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 26 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -4 | 38 |
| 8 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 30 | 32 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 15 | -2 | 36 |
| 9 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 27 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 34 |
| 10 | Saipa | 27 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 18 | -8 | 27 |
| 11 | Machine Sazi | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 25 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 27 |
| 12 | Zob Ahan | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 36 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 19 | -8 | 26 |
| 13 | Gol Gohar | 27 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 27 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 26 |
| 14 | Pars Jam Bushehr | 27 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 25 |
| 15 | Paykan | 27 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 35 | 42 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 20 | -7 | 24 |
| 16 | Shahin Bushehr | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 50 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 27 | -26 | 21 |