Iranian team Tractor has been grouped with Sharjah of the UAE, Uzbekistan Super League holder FC Pakhtakor and Air Force Club of Iraq in Group B.
In the era of Alireza Beiranvand, Hamed Lak, Amir Abedzadeh and Payam Niazmand, to name just a few, Iranian football is in the midst of something of a golden age of goalkeepers, but FC Tractor fans will argue that Akhbari deserves to be mentioned in the same breath.
A standout on the Asian stage at the AFC U23 AFC Championship of 2016, Akhbari broke through at the continental club level when Tractor reached the AFC Champions League Round of 16 later that year, keeping four clean sheets in six group stage matches.
In 2021, Tractor is back on the big stage and, with six clean sheets under his belt so far this season, its popular shot-stopper will be as important as anyone if the Hazfi Cup winner is to make a dent in Asia.