On September 16, Emirati club Shabab Al-Ahli will face Iran’s Tractor in the opening round of the AFC Champions League. Below are the details about the teams and their upcoming match.
See also: Al Shorta vs Al-Sadd prediction and betting tips 15 September 2025
Match Preview
Shabab Al-Ahli started the league strong, earning seven points from their first three matches and leading the table due to a better goal difference. They have scored three goals without conceding, including a goalless draw against Al-Wahda.
In the Champions League, Al-Ahli has participated in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons but failed at the qualification stage. They lost 4-2 to Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo played, in the playoff final. The following year, they were knocked out by Al-Gharafa with a 1-0 score, preventing them from reaching the group stage. This makes them less experienced on the continental stage, which could be a surprise for more seasoned teams.
Tractor from Tabriz started the season by winning a trophy, defeating Esteghlal from Tehran 2-1 in the Iranian Super Cup. However, their league performance has not been as strong, with a draw, a loss, and a win leaving them in eighth place after three rounds.
Like Al-Ahli, Tractor has limited experience in the Champions League. In the 2023/24 season, they faced Al-Sharjah in the playoffs but lost 1-3 at home, which cost them a spot in the group stage.
Probable Lineups
Al-Ahli: Mekebaali, Santos, Kayky, Planic, Henrique, Cesar, Guilherme, Breno, Ezatolahi, Cartabia, Dabbur
Tractor: Johansson, Esmaeilifar, Khalilzadeh, Sedlar, Naderi, Hashemnejad, Postonski, Torabi, Halilovic, Drozdek, Hosseinzadeh
Match Facts & Head-to-Head
- Both teams played each other twice in 2015, with Al-Ahli winning 3-2 and Tractor winning 1-0.
- No more than two goals have been scored in any of Al-Ahli’s first three league matches this season.
- Tractor has conceded in three of their last four matches.
Prediction
Both teams are returning to this competitive level, which might lead to some nervousness. Additionally, neither club has shown a strong scoring ability this season. My prediction: total under 2.5 goals at 1.8 odds.
