Financialtribune - Less than a week before the start of the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League, Al Duhail and Al Sadd - Qatari rivals of Persepolis and Esteghlal in the knockout stage - showed their power with decisive victories against their rivals in the league matches.
Both teams thrashed their league opponents with plenty of goals. Al Duhail humbled Al Khor with six goals on Saturday while in a more offensive game Al Sadd beat Al Arabi 10-1 on Sunday. The Qatari results should sound a clarion call for the Tehran clubs.
Esteghlal will resume its continental campaign on August 27 at Azadi Stadium against Al Sadd. The other Iranian representative among the last 8, the Reds will meet Al Duhail at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha a day later.