Persepolis and Esteghlal faced each other today (Friday) at 15:30 in Imam Khomeini Stadium in Arak, as part of Matchday 12 of the Persian Gulf Pro League. The match ended in a goalless 0–0 draw, with 8,000 spectators present in the stadium.

The performance of both teams on a poor-quality pitch was far from impressive, and the 106th Tehran Derby—like many previous encounters—lacked excitement and major highlights.

Persepolis lineup:
Payam Niazmand, Mohammad-Hossein Kanani-Zadegan, Morteza Pouraliganji, Milad Mohammadi, Serge Aurier, Milad Sarlak, Soroush Rafiei, Mohammad Omri (76’ – Tivi Bifouma), Oston Oruonov, Omid Alishah (67’ – Farshad Ahmadzadeh), Ali Alipour.

Esteghlal lineup:
Antonio Adán, Saleh Hardani, Rustam Ashurmatov, Saman Fallah, Hossein Goodarzi, Didier Ndong, Amir-Mohammad Razaghinia, Munir El Haddadi (70’ – Esmaeil Qolizadeh), Yaser Asani, Saeed Sakharghizān, Alireza Koushki.

Referee: Vahid Kazemi
Yellow cards: Soroush Rafiei (Persepolis), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal)

First Half

6’ Oruonov and Alipour combined inside the box, but Alipour’s weak shot was easily saved by Adán.

9’ Another dangerous run by Oruonov produced the first serious chance of the match, which Adán stopped well.

11’ Omid Alishah attempted a long-range shot from near midfield, but it went over the bar.

26’ A sharp cross from Hardani was punched away by Niazmand, who also saved Koushki’s follow-up shot.

32’ Hardani’s long-range effort went just wide.

37’ A powerful curving strike by Yaser Asani went narrowly wide of Niazmand’s goal.

Second Half

47’ A defensive error by Pouraliganji gave the ball to Razaghinia, whose long-range strike was stopped by Niazmand.

51’ Sakharghizān dribbled past Pouraliganji inside the box, but Niazmand again made a timely save.

81’ Esteghlal’s Qolizadeh found himself in a promising position, but his poor finish wasted the opportunity.

85’ A rehearsed free-kick routine by Persepolis ended with a cross from Milad Mohammadi that was cleared, and Bifouma’s final shot went over the bar.

source: tasnim