In a closely fought game in Isfahan last week, the tie appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until Zob Ahan was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time which Giorgi Gvelesiani converted to ensure the 2010 runner-up take a slender lead to Tehran.
Esteghlal is looking to progress to the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League for just the second time. The side from the Iranian capital reached the semi-final in 2013 in what remains its best performance in the competition.
The visiting team, meanwhile, has twice been beyond the last 16 stage, when it came runner-up in 2010 and then a year later when it progressed to the quarter-final.
But Zob Ahan will be without the suspended Mohammad Nejadmahdi after the defender was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before Gvelesiani’s winning penalty.
Esteghlal will also play without its injured midfielders Dariush Shojaeian and Omid Ebrahimi.