LivescoreIran’s Super Strikers Tipped to have Split Fortunes in the Champions League
The Iran national team continues to establish itself as one of the strongest units from the AFC region. Through the last couple of World Cup tournaments, the Persian Stars have steadily improved, cementing themselves as a side that’s tough to beat in 2018.
The success achieved by the national team has put a spotlight on Iran’s most talented stars, with several of them signing for major clubs in Europe. The two highest-rated Iranians right now are Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi, both of whom are competing with their clubs in the Champions League, but who is tipped to go the furthest.
Azmoun or Taremi for a deep run in the Champions League?
At the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, Azmoun and Zenit St Petersburg didn’t look set to qualify for the next round, but FC Porto and Taremi were tipped to progress in the football odds from Betfair. Zenit haven’t enjoyed the best of starts, losing to Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund before tying with Lazio. Porto, on the other hand, defeated Olympiacos and Marseille to stand just behind Manchester City.
As such, Azmoun’s club is set back at 17/2 to qualify from Group F, but if they can pull off a win against Club Brugge and snag another point from Lazio, the Russian outfit might be able to transfer to the Europa League. For Taremi’s team, sitting at 1/8 to qualify from Group C, it’s likely just a case of defeating Olympiacos and claiming another point from Marseille for good measure.
While the progress of their teams in the Champions League gives Taremi a greater shot at European success this season, managerial decision-making appears to be favouring Azmoun.
Which Persian Star is impressing for their club?
Set to progress in the Champions League this season, for Rio Ave in Liga NOS last season, Taremi was phenomenal. In his first season of European football, the Iranian striker scored 21 goals and five assists in 37 games to pull the club into Europa League qualification. The emphatic campaign earned him a transfer to Porto, with the league champions paying up £4.5 million for the Bushehr-native.
On the Porto books, following a short offseason of transition, Taremi is being eased into the team. Ten games into the campaign, the striker had been subbed-on nine times, scoring once and setting up another. The forward corps is rather stacked at Porto, with Moussa Marega, Evanilson, and Toni Martínez battling for a place in the starting XI each game.
Over in Russia, striker Azmoun continues to be a core part of the reigning champion squad. Compared to Ruud van Nistelrooy by the former national team boss, Carlos Queiroz, Azmoun fired in 21 goals and ten goals for Zenit last season. In the Russian Premier League, the Iranian sharpshooter’s 17 goals tied for the golden boot, with the player matching his tally being teammate Artem Dzyuba.
This season, he’s off to a hot start again. Usually starting alongside target man and captain Dzyuba, Azmoun notched six goals and three assists in just 11 league games. However, he was only able to feature in one of the first three Champions League matches due to injury. If he can avoid further injuries, Azmoun looks to be on track to score as many league goals, if not more this season.
While Taremi looks to go the furthest in the Champions League out of these two Iranian stars, Azmoun’s pegged for greater domestic success.