The league table in Persian Gulf Pro League tells a story about these teams so far, with Persepolis leading Saipa by 35 points. Match preview to follow:
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.
These teams are located so close to each other that their supporters eat in the same restaurants, hang out at the same night clubs and give birth at the same hospitals. This means added importance to the game and a vibrant atmosphere.
Persepolis form and stats
29 points is a decent return from 14 Persian Gulf Pro League games here at Azadi Stadium for Persepolis. The data says 9 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses.
The home team returns to Azadi Stadium after being equal after 90 minutes with Gol Gohar (placed 11th) on their last time out; the Persian Gulf Pro League game ended 3-3. Ahead of that match, Persepolis lost 0-1 at home to Zob Ahan.
A goal frenzy last time out for Persepolis, with a total of 6 goals in the match against Gol Gohar. Fun stuff to watch!
Persepolis are certainly not overdoing their scoring at home in league matches, having created 16 goals in 14 games. Persepolis are not conceding a lot of goals here at Azadi Stadium in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 9 from 14 matches.
Saipa form and stats
The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Saipa so far with only 12 points returning home. The records show 2-6-6 (win-draw-lose). Saipa has built quite a streak of draws from their away games now, as four in a row has ended all square. Will this streak be broken in today's game?
A. Sohrabian was the last player to score for the away team. Saipa haven't scored a league goal in the last 183 minutes. 288 minutes! That's how long the Saipa goalkeeper and his defense have shut out their league opponents.
Saipa's last game ended in a draw, the home match versus Naft Masjed Soleyman that finished 0-0. A 0-0 draw at Foolad's stadium before that.
Saipa have a decent goal production going in their away games, although not fantastic. In 14 league away games 14 goals have been scored. As opposed to that, Saipa have seen the ball go into their own net 18 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Persepolis and Saipa have met before this season: Saipa - Persepolis 0-2. H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Persepolis four wins, three draws and Saipa three victories. As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  M. Torabi 11 goals | A. Alipour 10 goals |  M. Soleimani Asl 6 goals |
Persepolis missing players
Saipa missing players
| Persepolis | Saipa | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 28 | 14 | 5 | Played | P | 4 | 14 | 29 |
| 19 | 9 | 4 | Won | W | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 3 | 6 | 14 |
| 5 | 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| 40 | 16 | 6 | Scored | S | 2 | 14 | 24 |
| 17 | 9 | 2 | Conceded | C | 4 | 18 | 32 |
| 96% | 93% | 80% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 50% | 86% | 69% |
| 46% | 43% | 40% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 64% | 52% |
| 32% | 29% | 40% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 25% | 36% | 31% |
| 18% | 14% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 29% | 24% |
| 7% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 14% | 10% |
| 29% | 29% | 40% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 64% | 45% |
| 54% | 50% | 60% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 14% | 34% |
| 21% | 29% | 20% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 36% | 52% |
| 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 2 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| 3.4 | 3.2 | 2.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| 1.7 | 2.1 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 243 | 100 | 22 | Total Shots | T S | 16 | 82 | 158 |
| 90 | 35 | 8 | Shots on Target | S O | 4 | 33 | 60 |
| 39% | 31% | 50% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 50% | 39% | 38% |
- Persepolis has the fewest conceded goals (17)
- Persepolis has the fewest conceded goals in the second half (10)
- Persepolis has the fewest dropped points from leading position (2)
- Persepolis has the the best goal difference (+26)
- Persepolis have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Saipa has the fewest scored goals in the first half (8)
- Saipa have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
| 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 | 29 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 8 | 26 | 64 |
| 2 | Esteghlal | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 51 | 30 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 50 |
| 3 | Tractor Sazi | 29 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 50 |
| 4 | Sepahan | 29 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 38 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 48 |
| 5 | Foolad | 29 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 48 |
| 6 | Padideh Khorasan | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 25 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 45 |
| 7 | Sanat Naft | 29 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 29 | 32 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 15 | -3 | 41 |
| 8 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 29 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 30 | 32 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 15 | -2 | 37 |
| 9 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 29 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 35 |
| 10 | Zob Ahan | 29 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 29 | 36 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 19 | -7 | 30 |
| 11 | Gol Gohar | 29 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 24 | 32 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 30 |
| 12 | Saipa | 29 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 18 | -8 | 29 |
| 13 | Paykan | 29 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 37 | 43 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 21 | -6 | 28 |
| 14 | Machine Sazi | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 40 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 24 | -13 | 28 |
| 15 | Pars Jam Bushehr | 29 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 20 | 29 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 27 |
| 16 | Shahin Bushehr | 29 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 53 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 30 | -28 | 22 |