Esteghlal reached the quarter-finals last time around, but it is now bottom of the group, having lost to Al Duhail 3-0 and drawn Al Ain 1-1 in Tehran.
Esteghlal’s domestic season has been a disappointment as a 1-0 defeat in Tehran derby against Persepolis last week left the team in fourth place.
It’s while Al Hilal is the early frontrunner having won both its first two games. It ends the first half of the group with an away trip to Doha, the adopted home of Esteghlal.
Second in the table of on goal difference is Zob Ahan who plays in Dubai for the second game in a row in Group A. This time, it is the away side against third-place Al Wasl.
The heavy defeat against Al Zawraa in Matchday Two left them reeling, but the home clash against Zob Ahan offers Al Wasl the chance to stay at the heart of the qualification race.