the 13th Persian Gulf Cup league will start tonight , with an eagerly anticipated clash of giants between Tractorsazi of Tabriz and Perspolis of Tehran.

Most of the Team Melli players will be in action for their teams in the next couple of days , with the rest of the first round program being played on Thursday.  It will be the first home apperance for Team Melli players since their qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup , where they beating Qatar , Lebanon and Korea Rep to clinch the lead of the group and qualify directly to Brazil.

Many Team Melli players have changed clubs while renewed rivalries will ignite the interest in the league from fans perspectives. Loyal team players , are no more a commodity in Iran. Tonight’s clash in Azadi stadium will be an interesting confrontation between Perspolis and trio of its former star players in Ali Karimi , Karim Ansarifard and Javad Kazemian.  While there was talk of revenge and settlement of accounts, Ali Karimi issued a messages of peace to Perspolis fans to calm the situation in the stands. Karimi was one of the most popular Perspolis players who pledged to play for his beloved club until he hangs his boots, however, at the end of the last season , Karimi abruptly retired for football after his team lost to Sepahan in the final of the Hazfi cup. Some weeks later, Karimi changed his mind on retirement , but Perspolis was unwilling to accept him. For the loyal red fans , seeing Karimi in another team’s jersey is hard to swallow. Perspolis is coached by Ali Daei who himself is a former player for the reds of Tehran , while Tractorsazi who have qualified for the next season AFC Asian Champions league , is coached by Majeed Jalali.

Javad Nekounam who had a turbulent relation with Estghlal and finally decided against leaving might not be available for the first match of his team. Ando Teymourian also might have difficulties due to the issue of ITC.