Groups A and B are set to take to the field on Monday while Group C will follow suit a day later, with a number of exciting ties to be held over the two days.

Dovale scored a hat-trick as Bengaluru registered an 8-2 aggregate win, having virtually sealed their place in the group stage after racing to a 3-0 lead in the first half at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Dovale needed just 12 minutes to put his team ahead, finishing great Bengaluru interplay by unleashing a scorcher from 30 yards out into the top right corner of the TC Sports Club net.

The Maldives club had staged a great comeback in the first leg, drawing level after going 2-0 down only to lose 3-2, but there was to be no fightback in the second leg.

Dovale widened Bengaluru's lead in the 35th minute when he rifled home from close range and TS Sports Club found themselves 3-0 down straight from the restart as midfielder Eric Paartalu, spotting goalkeeper Ibrahim Nadheem Adam off his line, lobbed home from 35 yards out.

Both sides were equally matched from the beginning, but despite their best efforts, genuine chances were few and far between.

Myrat Annayev came closest for FC Ahal in the 32nd minute with his pinpoint free-kick but goalkeeper Aleksei Matrossov saved well to keep the game goalless at the half-time whistle.

Rovshan Meredov's side returned for the second half more focused and broke the deadlock just four minutes in when Wezirgeldi Ylyasov found the back of the net after a scramble in the box.

FC Ahal duly extended their advantage just three minutes later, Suleyman Muhadov making no mistake from close range to double his side's lead.

Annayev was to miss a 77th minute penalty, awarded after he had been brought down in the area by Matrossov, but it mattered little as FC Ahal progressed.

They will now open their Group D campaign against FC Istiklol on March 7, before facing FC Alay and Altyn Asyr.

Al Ansar needed just under 10 minutes to move in front, as midfielder Hassan Chaitou stunned the home fans with a powerful left-footed strike from outside the area that nestled into the back of the net.

The best chance of the first half for the home side came in the 15th minute through Motaz Salih who got on the end of a Vinicius Calamari cross and fired with his left from inside the box, but goalkeeper Rabea El Kakhi stood tall to hold on to the shot and keep his side ahead at the break.

Another long-range strike secured Al Ansar’s win in second half added on time. This time, it was Alaa El Baba who tried his luck from 30 yards out, and his effort left goalkeeper Riyadh Al Alawi in no man’s land as the Lebanese side took home the three points.

Al Ansar host Jordan’s Al Faisaly on Matchday Two, while Dhofar face Syria’s Al Wahda away.

The visitors took the lead just four minutes after kick-off at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium as Safaa Hadi's 20-yard drive beat Al Ahed keeper Mehdi Khalil and nestled into the back of the net.

Al Ahed's efforts to get back into the game looked to have been rewarded in the 16th minute, when they were awarded a penalty after Ahmed Zreik was fouled in the box by Hussein Jwayed, but Nour Mansour's spot-kick was parried away by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.

The hosts got their equaliser midway through the second half as Yakubu headed in Hussein Dakik's cross in the 67th minute. The Ghanaian's night, however, ended on a low note after he was sent off with seven minutes on the clock for a second bookable offence.

Despite their numerical advantage, Al Zawraa were unable to get a winning goal, instead taking an important away point in their campaign opener. The Iraqi side will face Syria's Al Jaish in Doha on Matchday 2 while Al Ahed travel to Bahrain to play Manama.

Mun Ho-il's side will make their first appearance in the continental club competition after a 7-0 aggregate win over the Mongolians.

Jang Kuk-chol opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Choe Kwang-jin doubled their lead 41 minutes into the game.

Jon Chung-il gave the Koreans a comfortable advantage going into the break as he found the back of the net in added time.

The Koreans continued to dominate in the second half, while Battulga Zorigt's charges defended resolutely but failed to make a comeback.

Hwaepul SC will join 4.25 SC, Hang Yuen FC and Benfica Macau in Group I, and begin their campaign on March 7.