Tianhe Stadium will be the venue for the duo’s first meeting on Asian soil on August 28 in the first leg of their last eight clash in the Continental club championship, and comes a little more than seven years since their first – and so far only – meeting on the pitch.

That was at Sao Paulo’s Estadio do Pacaembu, when Paulinho’s Corinthians shared a 1-1 draw with a Portuguesa side featuring Leo Silva and the Kashima star is relishing the prospect of renewing his rivalry with the former Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

Urawa, who won last season’s Japan's Emperor’s Cup to qualify for the 2019 AFC Champions League, face Vitor Pereira’s side in the first leg of their last eight clash in Shanghai on August 27 knowing the last 18 months have been a difficult period for the two-time champions.

In the season-and-a-half since Urawa captured their second AFC Champions League – which came a decade after their first – the club has experienced significant upheaval.

The Xavi-led reigning QSL champions are already in competition mode after their triumph over local rivals Al Duhail in the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 and Sheikh Jassim Cup and looking to continue their fine start.

The 4-2 Round of 16 aggregate win over Al Duhail was followed by a 1-0 triumph in Saturday's Sheikh Jassim Cup and midfielder Ali Asad said their good early season form is a confidence booster for Al Sadd.

The Austria international signed for SIPG from Premier League side West Ham United in July and has had an immediate impact, scoring four times in six league games.

But his arrival – which saw Brazilian striker Elkeson return to Guangzhou Evergrande – has given Yu and his teammates a confidence and quality boost ahead of their AFC Champions League quarter-final meeting with the Japanese side.

Abdulfattah Asiri’s 42nd minute strike was the difference at the final whistle at King Saud University Stadium, but a 4-2 victory in Jeddah a week earlier ensured Al Hilal progressed to the quarter-finals for the seventh time in their history.

The Brazilian midfielder struck twice from inside the box, either side of the half-time break to help his side to a 4-3 aggregate win after Abderrazak Hamdallah had cancelled out Al Wahda’s opener.

Al Sadd SC, AFC Champions League winners in 2011, and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC - twice runners-up in the present format of the Continental showpiece - advanced from their Round of 16 ties on Tuesday to join Al Nassr and Al Ittihad in the last eight.

Saudi sides Al Nassr and two-time champions Al Ittihad had sealed their places on Monday.

The quarter-finals will see Al Nassr facing Al Sadd on August 26 and September 16 while the all-Saudi last eight tie between Al Ittihad and Al Hilal will take place on August 27 and September 16.