Persepolis produced an excellent performance last year to reach the final for the first time before defeat to Kashima Antlers as it continued its upward momentum having progressed to the semi-finals a year earlier.

Branko Ivankovic’s side has won the Iran Pro League for the last two years and moved to the top of the standings once more last week after a 1-0 victory over Sanat Naft, the-afc.com wrote.

Formerly AFC Champions League regulars, Pakhtakor returns for the first time since 2016 after defeating Iraq’s Air Force Club and the United Arab Emirates’ Al Nasr in the qualifying rounds.

The Uzbek side, who is without the suspended Odiljon Xamrobekov, won its only previous AFC Champions League meeting with Persepolis when it claimed a 1-0 victory in Tashkent in 2003.