West: Stick with Al Hilal  

 Let’s start in the West as Saudi Arabia heavyweights Al Hilal SFC – the most popular pick among Match Predictor players – square off against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis at Kingdom Arena on February 4. 

 

The home side sit top of the standings with 16 points from six games, edging domestic rivals Al Ahli Saudi thanks to a superior goal difference. Al Hilal’s attack has netted a joint-tournament-best 20 goals so far, led by marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic with five.  

Although there are injury concerns over the Serbian forward, the likes of Salem Al Dawsari, Malcom and Marcos Leonardo offer no shortage of firepower. 

Meanwhile, the visitors sit sixth on six points as they continue to chase a place in the knockout rounds after picking up their first win of the campaign against bottom side Al Shorta on Matchday 6. 

 

They may have conceded just six goals, but Persepolis’ problems are at the other end, where they have scored only five times in six matches with three of those goals coming from defenders Farshad Faraji and Giorgi Gvelesiani! 

 

The sides have met on a number of occasions over the years, with Al Hilal winning the most recent 3-0 in the 2021 Round of 16 while also eliminating the Iranian club in the 2017 semi-finals.  

 

Both recent history and form points to the Riyadh club, and we’re backing them to deliver once more.  

East: Buriram to topple Ulsan  

Thai League 1 defending champions Buriram United welcome 2024 K League 1 winners Ulsan HD to Buriram Stadium on Matchday 7 with the hosts clinging on to the eighth and final qualification spot in the East.  

 

Although they will be without their suspended captain Theerathon Bunmathan, red-hot forwards Guilherme Bissoli and Lucas Crispim are good to go against an Ulsan side who have suffered five defeats from six and sit second bottom. 

 

And while Ulsan did win their most recent match on the continent by coming from behind to defeat Shanghai Shenhua in early December, Kim Pan-gon’s team are currently in pre-season ahead of the 2025 K League 1 kick-off in mid-February. 

 

We believe the nearly two months without competitive action could hinder the Korean side while playing perfectly into the hands of Buriram, who are mid-season and lead the way in Thai League 1 as they chase yet another title.  

The last Korean side to visit Buriram were Ulsan’s East Coast rivals Pohang Steelers on Matchday 3 and they departed Thailand on the back of a 1-0 defeat – Bissoli netting the winning goal.  

 

With Buriram’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance and Ulsan’s chances of making the knockout rounds looking incredibly slim, it really is now or never for both sides.  

 

However, as they prepare to square off for the first time in the continental competition, we’re leaning towards a Buriram side who are so often strong at home beating an Ulsan team that may lack match sharpness. 

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