2008 AFC Champions League Group Stage: Al Gharafa 2-2 Pakhtakor

In 2008, Al Gharafa and Pakhtakor found themselves drawn in the same group for the first and only time so far. For the Uzbeks, it was their sixth straight AFC Champions League appearance while Al Gharafa had only qualified once before.

The first fixture took place in Doha and produced an eventful game that entertained the fans in attendance at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium. After a goalless draw at the break, the game suddenly sprung into life in the 57th minute when Iraqi international Younis Mahmoud broke the deadlock for the hosts with a volleyed finish.

Mahmoud's strike partner Clemerson doubled the lead eight minutes later, before a resilient Pakhtakor staged a late comeback. Goals from captain Asror Alikulov and substitute Farhod Tadjiyev gave the Uzbek side a valuable point in a game which saw both sides end with 10 men.

Al Ain v Malkiya

6:15pm, January 30

Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain

Al Ain

Despite finishing fourth in the UAE Pro League last season, Al Ain benefitted from Shabab Al Ahli’s failure to obtain the AFC license to take their place in the 2018 AFC Champions League play-offs.

A missed penalty in the final cost Al Ain the 2016 AFC Champions League title, and eventually it cost Brazilian striker Douglas his place in the team. Swedish international Markus Berg has arrived to replace him, and he has already scored 11 league goals in half a season, four less than Douglas did in 18 months at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Al Ain swapped one Croatian for another in the dugout. As Zlatko Dalic moved on to lead his nation to the FIFA World Cup 2018, Zoran Mamic arrived from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. His main task will be to go one further than his countryman did and bring the club their second Asian title.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs FLC Thanh Hoa

7:30pm, January 30

Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon

SUWON BLUEWINGS

After finishing a disappointing seventh in 2016, Suwon Samsung Bluewings rebounded superbly in 2017, finishing third and restoring some pride for the two-time continental champions.

While they may have lost their star man and top scorer from last season, Johnathan, who has moved to Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, they have made arguably the biggest signing in K League history by capturing FC Seoul superstar Dejan Damjanovic, the K League’s second highest goal scorer behind Lee Dong-gook.

Coached by club legend Seo Jung-won, who won back-to-back Asian Club Championships with Suwon in 2001 and 2002, they are no strangers to continental competition, playing in the AFC Champions League in seven of the last nine years. They performed well in the group stage last year, losing just one of their six matches, but in a tough group finished third behind Kawasaki Frontale and Guangzhou Evergrande.

2016: Al Jazira 2-2 Al Sadd (Al Jazira won 5-4 on penalties)

In the 2016 AFC Champions League play-offs, the mere presence of Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez made 2011 champions Al Sadd heavy favourites going into their decisive encounter against hosts Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi.

With Al Jazira also suffering from a bad patch of domestic form prior to their continental fixture, few would have bet on them to progress. However, in the hugely entertaining match that ensued, it was the home side who would surprisingly have the last laugh.

Despite falling behind to Hamza Al Sanhaji's 23rd minute strike, a Kenwyne Jones header and an Ali Mabkhout free-kick gave Al Jazira the lead. Al Sanhaji then returned to net a late equaliser before Khalfan Ibrahim missed a stoppage time penalty that would have seen Al Sadd through.

The game headed to a penalty shootout, where Xavi blasted his spot kick high and Al Jazira’s Ali Khaseif saved from Morteza Pouraliganji to secure a thrilling triumph for the hosts.

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2015: Central Coast Mariners 1-3 Guangzhou R&F