AFC Champions League 2; We have nothing to say here either!

When the draws for the Elite League and AFC Champions League 2 were held, there was some optimism. In the Elite League, Tractor avoided facing Saudi giants in the group stage and also had luck on their side in the first knockout round. However, if they advance further, they will most likely face a Saudi team, where their true level will be revealed.

In AFC Champions League 2, things also started well. Esteghlal faced teams from the UAE, Jordan, and Bahrain, with no major names in their group. However, their heavy 7-goal defeat against Al Wasl showed the depth of the problem from the very beginning. Esteghlal advanced as group runner-up but failed against Al-Hussein of Jordan in the knockout stage and was eliminated.

The second Iranian representative, Sepahan, also did not start strongly, losing to Al-Hussein in their opening match. Despite a favorable draw and advancing as second place, they were eliminated by Al-Ahli of Qatar in the knockout stage.

These results show that Iranian teams not only struggle against wealthy Saudi clubs but are also falling behind mid-level teams from Jordan, Bahrain, and even Turkmenistan.
Both Iranian representatives were eliminated in the Round of 16 without even facing the strongest team, Al Nassr, losing instead to lesser-known sides./ Tasnim