Kashima are 2-0 ahead in the tie thanks to first leg goals from Leo Silva and Serginho, but still have to negotiate the famous Azadi Stadium atmosphere if they are to reach the promised land and claim their first ever continental crown.

Shoji, however, has played on some of the biggest stages in the game, including at the FIFA World Cup for Japan and FIFA Club World Cup for Kashima, and is confident he has what it takes to cope in the heat of the action.

With tickets for the 78,116 capacity Azadi stadium nearly sold out, the 2018 finale is poised to eclipse the highest single match attendance set during the 2014 finals, when 63,763 attended the deciding leg between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

The sensational response in Iran also paves the way for a second consecutive year of record attendances after the 2017 final between Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal set the tournament’s highest-ever attendance over two legs.

The Iranian giants held their hosts to a stalemate for the opening 45 minutes, but conceded twice in the second half, with goals from Leo Silva and Serginho consigning them to a 2-0 defeat.

However, having turned the table after losing the first leg in both the Round of 16 and the quarter-final ties, Resan believes his team can do it one more time to seal a historic victory in the second leg of the final.

Ghotbi also spent three-and-a-half years coaching in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse, leaving him uniquely placed to run the rule over the sides battling to be crowned kings of the Continent.

The 54-year-old has enjoyed a long and distinguished career around Asia and beyond, but his triumph of steering Persepolis to the league title at the Azadi in 2008 is a moment that remains etched on his memory.

Despite going into the second leg of the final against Persepolis two goals up, following a 2-0 win in Kashima last weekend, experienced full-back Yamamoto is well-aware that the tie is by no means over

With a potentially record-breaking crowd expected for an AFC Champions League finale, the first goal could be absolutely vital. Should the Japanese visitors score it, their hosts would effectively need to net four times to overcome the away goal advantage.

But if it were the Iranian side that draw first blood, the cauldron of noise at the intimidating Azadi Stadium could swell to a game-changing crescendo.

The Japanese side travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran with a two-goal lead after Serginho added to fellow Brazilian Leo Silva’s opener in the first leg at Kashima Soccer Stadium to secure a 2-0 win for the J.League club. 

More than 35,000 spectators roared Kashima to victory on home soil, but that number is likely to be at least doubled in Tehran, where Persepolis’ die-hard fans regularly fill the venue to capacity and generate one of the most vibrant atmospheres in Asia.

But overcoming the odds is something Branko Ivankovic’s team have managed to do time and again in the knockout rounds and, going by their previous performances, Persepolis will be confident that they can still write their name into the history books.

No side have overhauled a two-goal first-leg deficit in the final since Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad recovered from losing 3-1 to Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2004 to win the return meeting 5-0 and be crowned champions. Azadi Stadium, though, brings out the best in the Iranian giants and this final is far from over.