Players

Iran have said goodbye to two of their greats with Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia - the latter a member of Team Melli’s famed France 1998 generation - recently announcing their retirements.

The stakes are incessantly high in the Tehran derby, and with Esteghlal out to consolidate their lead and Persepolis aiming to relieve the troubles of last season, its 76th installment is the talk of Iran.