Al-Nassr vs Istiqlol Dushanbe Prediction 02.10.2023

• Competition: AFC Champions League - Group E
• Date: Monday, 2nd, October 2023
• Kickoff: 19:00 UTC +1 / 20.00 CEST
• Venue: Al-Awwal Park (Riyadh)

Al-Nassr and CR7 are gearing up to welcome Istiqlol Dushanbe, the champions of Tajikistan, to Al-Awwal Park for their second AFC Champions League Group E clash on Monday.

After losing the championship race to Al-Ittihad, Al Nassr had to settle for the runner-up position and a place in the final round of qualification for the AFC Champions League. In order to reach the group stage of this competition for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign, CR7 and his teammates had to overcome the hurdle of Al-Ahli SC, which they did in an impressive fashion by defeating the Qatari side 4-2. Considered among the top contenders for the most prestigious trophy in Asian football, the Knights of Najd began their campaign with a routine 2-0 victory over Persepolis, exacting revenge on the Iranian side for their 2020 semifinal elimination.

Despite being founded relatively recently in 2007, Istiqlol swiftly established itself as the unrivaled ruler of football in Tajikistan. Earlier this month, the Dushanbe-based club celebrated clinching their impressive ninth consecutive Vysshaya Liga title. It's quite remarkable that this season, the Tajikistan Lions have once again gathered 40 points, just as they did in the previous campaign, securing their remarkable 11th national title. Under the guidance of Igor Cherevchenko, Istiqlol began their ACL Champions League campaign with an uneventful stalemate, finishing 0-0 against the Qatari champions Al-Duhail SC.

Al-Nassr vs Istiqlol Dushanbe Betting Tips: AH1 (-1.5)

In Group E, featuring Al-Duhail, Istiqlol Dushanbe, and Persepolis, it's as clear as day that Saudi giants Al-Nassr stand out as the undisputed favorites, not only to progress through this stage but also to clinch the entire tournament. Following a tumultuous start to the season, which included defeats in their opening two matches against Al-Ettifaqa (1-2) and Al-Taawon (0-2), the Knights of Najd have managed to learn from their mistakes and are now shining on the pitch. Led by the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr enters the second match of their AFC Champions League group stage campaign on the back of an exceptional nine consecutive victories across all competitions. 

The attacking line of the Saudi giant is in full swing, tearing apart the opponents' nets for fun, having scored a staggering 34 goals during their winning streak, which is almost four goals per game. The Ronaldo-Mane duo is a sheer terror for rival goalkeepers, and there's little doubt that Istiqlol will have their hands full, as they simply don't possess the necessary strength and quality to compete with this Riyadh outfit. Given the immense gap in quality between these two teams, it would be a major shock if Al-Nassr didn't secure a convincing victory.