Esteghlal Khuzestan hope to sell some tickets for this game even though the season has been rough so far with 16 points and a 15th position in the Persian Gulf Pro League table. Visiting Foolad holds 6th place with 30 pts.
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 so close in distance that this match is special, a derby with local pride the main prize.
Esteghlal Khuzestan form and stats
Esteghlal Khuzestan's struggle is real here at Ghadir Stadium with only 9 points collected from 12 games. The win-draw-lost numbers are ugly 2-3-7. With nine home games in a row without a win, the Esteghlal Khuzestan fans could feel they are not getting value for their money. It remains to be seen whether this unfortunate streak, which started after the Zob Ahan game long ago, can be stopped today. It's trouble wherever Esteghlal Khuzestan are playing these days as they have suffered four straight defeats now. They really need to get back to winning ways.The fans are hoping that Esteghlal Khuzestan will strike back in this match, putting things right after the 1-2 away loss in the Persian Gulf Pro League game against Pars Jam Bushehr. Before that game, the home loss against Tractor Sazi with the scoreline 0-3.
Esteghlal Khuzestan have scored 7 goals here in 12 matches, not a lot. On the other hand, Esteghlal Khuzestan have conceded 14 goals.
Foolad form and stats
The visitors are W3-D4-L5 on the road this term.Foolad's last game was the home draw against Padideh Khorasan (1-1). Ahead of that match was the victory versus Machine Sazi at their stadium, the result 1-0.
The visitors have scored 7 goals from 12 away games, an average of less than one per game. As opposed to that, Foolad have seen the ball go into their own net 14 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
These teams' last encounter with each other was the Foolad - Esteghlal Khuzestan 0-0 earlier this season. As for the last ten games between these two teams, there's 2 Esteghlal Khuzestan victories, 3 draws and 5 Foolad wins.Top Goalscorers
  Luciano Chimba 7 goals |  V. Kheshtan 5 goals |  H. Beyt Saeed 4 goals |
Esteghlal Khuzestan missing players
Foolad missing players
| Esteghlal Khuzestan | Foolad | |||
| Total | Home | Statistic | Away | Total |
| 24 | 12 | Played | 12 | 24 |
| 14 | 7 | Scored | 7 | 20 |
| 35 | 14 | Conceded | 14 | 27 |
| 92% | 92% | Over 0.5 | 67% | 79% |
| 67% | 58% | Over 1.5 | 50% | 62% |
| 29% | 25% | Over 2.5 | 33% | 38% |
| 8% | 0% | Over 3.5 | 17% | 12% |
| 4% | 0% | Over 4.5 | 8% | 4% |
| 38% | 33% | Both teams to score | 25% | 50% |
| 17% | 25% | Clean Sheet | 42% | 29% |
| 54% | 50% | Failed To Score | 67% | 42% |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
| 1 | Persepolis | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 30 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 20 | 51 |
| 2 | Tractor Sazi | 24 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 22 | 49 |
| 3 | Sepahan | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 47 |
| 4 | Esteghlal | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 23 | 44 |
| 5 | Padideh Khorasan | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 43 |
| 6 | Foolad | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 30 |
| 7 | Pars Jam Bushehr | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| 8 | Saipa | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | -2 | 28 |
| 9 | Machine Sazi | 24 | 4 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 9 | -3 | 26 |
| 10 | Zob Ahan | 23 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -5 | 26 |
| 11 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 24 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 21 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 18 | -4 | 25 |
| 12 | Paykan | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 11 | -6 | 25 |
| 13 | Sanat Naft | 24 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 18 | 27 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 14 | -9 | 21 |
| 14 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 24 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -12 | 19 |
| 15 | Esteghlal Khuzestan | 24 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 21 | -21 | 16 |
| 16 | Sepidrood Rasht | 24 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 42 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 18 | -27 | 15 |
