Getting closer to the top teams is at stake when these two mid-table clubs battle it out. Both will be aiming to improve their league table standing, Foolad in 6th and Naft Masjed Soleyman in 8th place.
There should be plenty of energy on the pitch in this game, as both sides have had time to recuperate from their last game. Let's hope both teams are ready to give it all.
Foolad form and stats
Foolad have performed here at Shohadaye Artesh Stadium this season with 8 wins from 12 Persian Gulf Pro League matches. Some points have been lost, as they have drawn 2 games and lost 2. After failing to beat Persepolis here at Shohadaye Artesh Stadium, Foolad has put together a very nice winning streak on their own turf with seven wins in a row.
Foolad manager J. Nekounam and his team return home after a 0-0 draw away versus Gol Gohar (placed 13th) in the Persian Gulf Pro League. Prior to that was the away defeat visiting Nassaji Mazandaran (2-3).
The match schedule is unforgiving for Foolad as they have a new game in only four days, a Persian Gulf Pro League match thankfully also at home. Saipa are visiting.
Foolad has scored 13 league goals at home this season, in 12 matches. As for guarding their own goal, Foolad have only let in 5 goals at home.
Naft Masjed Soleyman form and stats
Playing away, Naft Masjed Soleyman have won 2 games, drawn 8 and suffered 3 defeats in the Persian Gulf Pro League this season. It's three draws from Naft Masjed Soleyman's last three away games, a decent catch but one that could be so much better.
It's another away game for the visitors, as they travelled to Zob Ahan (placed 12th) in their previous outing. The Persian Gulf Pro League match ended in a draw 1-1. The game before that, was lost at home, a 1-2 defeat against Persepolis.
A quick return to home after this game, as Naft Masjed Soleyman are hosting Gol Gohar in the Persian Gulf Pro League only four days away.
The visitors have scored 11 goals from 13 away games in the league, an average of less than one per game. It's not easy to score on Soleyman as they have only conceded 12 goals from these away games.
Head 2 Head
Naft Masjed Soleyman - Foolad 0-0 was the story when these teams last met, earlier this season. Head-to-head totals (for the last five meetings): Foolad won two games, two matches ended with a draw and Naft Masjed Soleyman has one win. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: two / threeTop Goalscorers
  L. Pereira Mendes 7 goals |   E. Mirjavan 5 goals |  A. Vali 4 goals |
Foolad missing players
Naft Masjed Soleyman missing players
| Foolad | Naft Masjed Soleyman | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 26 | 12 | 2 | Played | P | 2 | 13 | 26 |
| 12 | 8 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | 2 | 0 | Drew | D | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | Lost | L | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 26 | 13 | 1 | Scored | S | 1 | 11 | 21 |
| 19 | 5 | 1 | Conceded | C | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 81% | 83% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 50% | 69% | 65% |
| 42% | 42% | 0% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 54% | 50% |
| 31% | 25% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 31% | 23% |
| 12% | 0% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 15% | 8% |
| 8% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 8% | 4% |
| 35% | 25% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 54% | 46% |
| 46% | 58% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 38% | 50% |
| 38% | 33% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 38% | 38% |
| 3.9 | 3.8 | 1 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.5 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| 2.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.5 | 4.9 | 3.9 |
| 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.5 | 2.2 | 1.8 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 160 | 65 | 8 | Total Shots | T S | 4 | 52 | 109 |
| 61 | 23 | 2 | Shots on Target | S O | 1 | 19 | 43 |
| 31% | 39% | 50% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 100% | 47% | 40% |
- Foolad has the fewest conceded goals (5) at home
- Foolad have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded at home.
- Naft Masjed Soleyman has the fewest matches over the total-line (5)
- Naft Masjed Soleyman 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 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 5 | 27 | 63 |
| 2 | Esteghlal | 27 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 21 | 48 |
| 3 | Tractor Sazi | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 46 |
| 4 | Sepahan | 27 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 36 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 45 |
| 5 | Padideh Khorasan | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 44 |
| 6 | Foolad | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 43 |
| 7 | Sanat Naft | 27 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 26 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -4 | 38 |
| 8 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 26 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 34 |
| 9 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 27 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 29 | 32 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 15 | -3 | 33 |
| 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 |