Al Ittihad vs Sepahan prediction 04.12.2023

• Competition: AFC Champions League
• Date: Monday, 4th December 2023
• Kickoff: 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
• Venue: King Abdul Aziz Stadium (Mecca)

Al Ittihad and Sepahan will compete in the final match of the group phase of the AFC Champions League on Monday afternoon. The outcome will determine who advances to the competition’s next phase.

Al Ittihad, the previous year’s victors of the Saudi Arabian league, made significant financial investments and recruited some notable players during the summer. However, they are yet to realize their full potential. Currently, they occupy the 4th place in the domestic league table, totalling 28 points, which is ten points less than the league leader, Al Hilal. Moreover, they have played one game more than Al Hilal. In contrast, Al Ittihad’s performance in the AFC Champions League is commendable, and they are just one point away from progressing to the next stage.

In recent seasons, Sepahan has predominantly been the runner-up team in Iran. They fared well this year, however, some non-sporting events have placed them in difficult positions in both the domestic league and the AFC Champions League. Despite having the best record in the domestic league, they are currently fourth due to a four-point deduction from financial irregularities. Their AFC Champions League match against Al Ittihad was not played, resulting in a 3:0 win awarded to Al Ittihad. Now, they find themselves in a demanding situation where they need to secure all three points in an away match against what is likely the strongest team in the group.

Al Ittihad vs Sepahan pick: Al Ittihad to win and cover the -1 AH spread

Al Ittihad are a formidable team on paper, kicking off the season on a high note with seven victories in eight matches. Their only loss was against another strong team, Al Hilal, in a tightly contested match. However, their exceptional start was followed by inconsistent performances in October and early November, leading to the dismissal of their coach. Now, with a new coach at the helm, they seem to have regained their vigour and have managed to secure consecutive wins after a dry spell of over two months.

Sepahan has been performing well, however, their successful outcomes have predominantly been on home ground. They have only managed to secure two victories out of five games in all competitions when playing away. Given this, we lack confidence in their ability to overcome a formidable Al Ittihad team. Furthermore, Sepahan will be under pressure to secure a win in this match to gain all three points, a strategy that could potentially backfire.

Al Ittihad triumphed in the last two head-to-head matches (disregarding the final game that was awarded) with a total goal difference of 6:0. Despite the impressive performance of both teams, we believe Al Ittihad is superior. Given their home field advantage, the Saudi Arabian champions are expected to clinch an easy victory against the Iranian runners-up.