Sepahan Advances to 2025-26 AFC Champions League Play-Off

Sepahan defeated Esteghlal 3-1 on Thursday and finished second in 2024-25 Iran Professional League (IPL) thanks to face-to-face encounter with Persepolis.

Mohammad Hossein Eslami scored for Esteghlal in the 10th minute, but Kaveh Rezaei canceled out his goal in the 36th minute.

Sepahan winger Mohammad Mahdi Mohebbi doubled the advantage in the 76th minute and Wissam Ben Yedder made the result 3-1 with two minutes remaining.

In Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, Persepolis defeated already-relegated Havadar 2-0, thanks to two late goals from Oston Urunov and Yaqoub Barajeh.

Sepahan joined IPL champion Tractor and will represent Iran in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite play-off.

Elsewhere, already-relegated Nassaji lost to Zob Ahan 3-0, Shams Azar lost to Aluminum 3-1, Malavan and Foolad shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, Gol Gohar defeated Chadormalou 1-0, Mes and Khaybar played out a goalless draw, and Tractor defeated Esteghlal Khuzestan 3-1.