Sleepless nights, title repeats, super subs, hellos and goodbyes all feature as the-AFC.com talks to those involved in the latest edition of the Continent's most presitigious competition.

Needing a win to secure a place in the last 16, Oscar’s first-half brace calmed any nerves among the Chinese Super League champions, before Li Shenglong added a third – his first-ever goal in the competition – to effectively secure the three points and qualification.

Oscar grabbed his hat-trick soon after and Hu Jinghang rounded off the scoring late on as Shanghai progressed to the knockout rounds for the fourth successive year and Li was left with a night to remember.

The two-time champions went close to exiting at the Group Stage for just the second time in their proud eight-tournament history, but they were indebted to their former FC Barcelona midfielder once more.

Only victory over visitors Daegu FC would suffice for Fabio Cannavaro's side to leapfrog the Koreans into the runners-up spot in Group F and it was Paulinho's 64th minute intervention that proved to be the difference-maker.

The 2018 AFC Champions League winners made hard work of it at time, but thanks to a stunning two-goal cameo off the bench from substitute striker Sho Ito - who also scored a brace against Shandong in the first meeting - the J.League club are once more in the Round of 16 of the Continent's most prestigious club tournament.

The defeat, with Mahdi Torabi and Ali Alipour scoring for 2018 finalists Persepolis, came just four days after Al Sadd had lost the Qatar Amir Cup final to Al Duhail.

It was not the farewell Al Sadd wanted to give retiring Spanish legend Xavi but forward Akram Afif admitted that Al Sadd had not been at their best in both matches.

The defending champions went into the game at Kashima Soccer Stadium needing to avoid defeat to progress to the last 16, but fell behind early on when Marouane Fellaini struck after 11 minutes.

One down at the interval, Kashima knew that if the score remained the same and there was a winner between Gyeongnam FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in Group E’s other game, then they would be heading for an early exit.

There is a feeling amongst those at Urawa Red Diamonds of unfinished business at the AFC Champions League. Winners in 2017, the Reds were unable to qualify for the 2018 edition and thus never had the opportunity to retain their title.

The return to the Continental competition this year has, instead, been perceived as a belated defence of the championship they memorably lifted at Saitama Stadium after a victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.

And that aim, admitted Koroki, was a key motivating factor in the winner-take-all clash with Beijing FC on Matchday Six.