Runners-up in two of the last three editions of the competition, the Iran Pro League champions have travelled to the Tajik capital to face an Istiklol side who emerged as the fairy-tale story of this year’s ACL group stage, pulling off a series of shock wins in their tournament debut in April.

With those heroics in mind, and an excited Dushanbe public ready to welcome ACL knockout stage football for the first time, Golmohammadi said he expects Persepolis to be seriously challenged at Central Republican Stadium.

The game sees the two sides face off for the first time in their history with Japan’s Nagoya participating in the AFC Champions League for the fourth time and Korea Republic’s Daegu making just their second appearance.

After a nine-year hiatus on the continent, J1 League side Nagoya are looking to go beyond the last 16 for just the second time, while K League 1 club Daegu are hoping to emulate a number of illustrious Korean teams by going deep into the tournament.

The clash in Korea Republic will see the current leaders of the domestic championships in both East Asian nations face off in what should be a mouth-watering tie given both sides are currently on 100 percent records following the group stage phase of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Two-time winners Ulsan will be looking to return to the quarter-finals for the fourth time, the same goal for Kawasaki who previously featured in the last eight in the 2007, 2009 and 2017 editions.

With Riyadh-based Al Hilal desperate to erase the memory of the last edition’s COVID-19 enforced group stage exit, and Esteghlal hoping to emulate their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final appearance, both clubs have arrived in Dubai with noticeably different personnel than during April’s group stage.

On the back of an incredible 15-game winning run, defending champions Ulsan Hyundai are among the contenders, as are the 2020 runners-up Persepolis FC and former winners Al Hilal SFC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Pohang Steelers, while newcomers FC Istiklol and BG Pathum United enter the knockout rounds in their debut campaigns.

As the big kick-off fast approaches, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for in the days ahead.

As the countdown to the knockout stage reaches its final days, the-AFC.com takes you through who has arrived, who has departed and what it all means ahead of some of the biggest matches on the Asian football calendar.

As the countdown to the knockout stage reaches its final days, the-AFC.com takes through who has arrived, who has departed and what it all means ahead of some of the biggest matches on the Asian football calendar