Esteghlal, Persepolis in PGPL two-horse title race
TEHRAN - The Iranian football premier league, known as the Persian Gulf Pro League (IPGL), is nearing its seven final stretches with what appears to be a two-horse race for the championship title.
In Matchweek 23, Esteghlal managed to secure a victory over Aluminum in Arak with a goal from their Argentine forward Gustavo Blanco. Similarly, Persepolis clinched a win in Tehran with a goal from Issa Alekasir against Malavan.
Esteghlal now lead the league with 50 points, while Persepolis, trailing by just one point, seek to reclaim the top spot and defend their title under the guidance of Brazilian coach Osmar Loss.
Following a heavy 4-1 defeat of Tractor against Zob Ahan and a home draw for Sepahan against Naft Masjed Soleyman, both Tractor and Sepahan have actually fallen out of contention for the championship, leaving the two Tehran football giants in a fierce battle for the title.
Esteghlal, under the leadership of Javad Nekounam, have maintained a consistent performance throughout the season, consistently leading the table for weeks, albeit with the gap to Persepolis now minimized.
In the recent weeks, a fierce competition has erupted between the two teams, not only in terms of the physical battle on the field but also in the strategic mind games.
It all started when Esteghlal made allegations against Persepolis, claiming that they were unfairly benefiting from referee decisions. Following their win in Arak, Esteghlal club issued a statement objecting to the refereeing in their match against Aluminum, hinting at favoritism towards Persepolis in recent officiating decisions.
Meanwhile, Persepolis have responded to these allegations and urged football federation officials to take disciplinary action against the Blues for their accusations.
It appears that the off-field and on-field rivalry between Persepolis and Esteghlal will intensify in the coming weeks, promising fiery encounters and adding further drama to the Iranian league.
source: tehrantimes.com