Al Duhail, whose reign as QSL champions was ended by Al Sadd last season, ended the campaign brightly by winning the Amir Cup with a 4-1 triumph in the final over their domestic rivals.

Defending champions Kashima Antlers, aiming to create history by becoming the first Japanese side to win back-to-back titles, will face two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande FC from China PR.

Guangzhou, who have not gone beyond the quarter-final stage since 2015, will welcome Kashima on August 28 before travelling to Japan on September 18.

Brazilian winger Edmilson was Al Duhail's star, scoring a brace and assisting another as Duhail denied Al Sadd the chance to add the Amir Cup to the 2018-19 Qatar Stars League title they had already won.

Defeat meant a losing end for Spanish legend Xavi, who was playing his final match for Al Sadd.

The former Argentina international replaces Croatian Branko Ivankovic, who is now leading Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli.

Persepolis announced Calderon's signing on Monday and the Islamic Republic of Iran giants will be counting on the former midfielder, who played for Argentina in the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, to continue their dominance in the Iran Pro League.

The 50-year-old left Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki last month after guiding them to a historic unbeaten Greek Super League tile; their first since 1985.

Prior to his successful stint in Greece, Lucescu had managed Rapid Bucharest, Brasov and Petrolul Ploiesti in his native Romania. He also had a two-year spell in Asian football, which saw him win the Qatar Stars Cup with El Jaish in 2012-13.

Defending champions Kashima Antlers, a pair of two-time winners in Guangzhou Evergrande and Urawa Red Diamonds, and former semi-finalists Shanghai SIPG emerged victorious from the East half of the AFC Champions League's Round of 16. The-AFC.com delves into some of the numbers that tell the story of the week's matches.