Esteghlal FC defeats Mes Shahr Babak 4-0 in league opener

Esteghlal FC opened their Iranian Premier League season with a 4-0 victory against Mes Shahr Babak at Shahr-e Qods Stadium. Saeed Saharkhizian was the standout performer, scoring twice with goals in the 45th and 55th minutes. Other scorers included Mohammad Hossein Eslami and Esmail Gholizadeh.

Despite the dominant win, the club faces significant internal challenges. Esteghlal is currently operating without a CEO and is under a transfer ban, which prevented the registration of new signings like Mohammad Khalifeh and Bahram Goudarzi. Head coach Sohrab Bakhtiari-Zadeh has had to rely on the existing squad due to these restrictions.

Prior to the match, the club drew attention for a promotional poster that included the championship trophy from the previous unfinished season, a move seen as a statement regarding their claim to the title. While the win provides a morale boost for fans, analysts warn that the club's underlying administrative and structural issues remain unresolved.