Iranian giants Esteghlal reached the knockout stage in the 2017 edition of the continental competition and, despite winning the first leg against Al Ain 1-0, would crash out of the AFC Champions League in dramatic fashion after a comprehensive 6-1 defeat in the United Arab Emirates.

Goulart, the AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player and top scorer in 2015, is expecting a tough clash against a side that contains star power such as Alexandre Pato, Anthony Modeste and Axel Witsel.

“We always expect a difficult match,” he told the-AFC.com.

“These are two different competitions, (and) sometimes the team focuses on one competition and leaves aside the other. Regardless of their form at the moment, it will be two difficult matches and we have to be at our best.

Senegalese forward Mame Thiam rose to the occasion to score the only goal of the game in the 35th minute, courtesy of Khosro Heydari’s cross into the box which proved to be enough to beat the Babol-based club in an exciting final.

Esteghlal, who were ensured a place in the 2019 AFC Champions League after finishing third in the Iran Pro League in April, will continue their pursuit of a third Asian club Continental title after an impressive run in their 2018 AFC Champions League campaign, where they finished unbeaten as Group D winners.

Winfried Schäfer’s charges take on compatriots Zobahan FC in the Round of 16, on May 8 and 15.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has three sides remaining in the competition, while the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have two and Saudi Arabia one. Inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain, 2010 winners Zobahan and the last team from the West to lift the trophy, Al Sadd, are among the line-up.

The ultimate winners at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on February 1, 2019, will receive an impressive USD$5 million.

The AFC President, who made the announcement during the dazzling AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Draw at the United Arab Emirates’ Burj Khalifa, said: “Tonight, we celebrate a new chapter in the glorious history of the Asian Cup here in the UAE.

“This is the second time the UAE has staged this competition and the fact that the competition has now doubled in size demonstrates how far Asian football has progressed in 22 years.

“In addition to more teams and more opportunities, the AFC wants to reward success. I am pleased to announce tonight that the prize money for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will total almost 15 million dollars and the winners of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 will collect 5 million dollars.”

The new trophy was unveiled by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and former UAE international Zuhair Bakheet during the glittering AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Draw at the Burj Khalifa.

Designed and made by world renowned silversmiths Thomas Lyte of London, the new trophy eloquently communicates the powerful spirit of football’s second oldest continental football competition.

Thomas Lyte craftsmen have designed and made globally some of the most iconic sporting trophies and the new AFC Asian Cup took these makers over 450 hours to craft, passing through the hands of 12 different craftsmen.

AFC President Shaikh Salman said: “Since 1956 we have had the same trophy and in keeping with the new and exciting future of the competition, the AFC decided to commission a new trophy, one that captures the excitement and drama of the tournament ahead.

“The AFC has trusted Thomas Lyte for all of our trophy designs since 1997 and I am happy to see this relationship flourish with this magnificent trophy which is fitting of the crowning jewel of the AFC’s competitions.”

Islamic Republic of Iran legend Ali Daei was excited with the result of the draw, describing it as one that promises much action next January.

Held at the Armani Hotel in Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa, the Final Draw was a glittering affair. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the composition of the six groups.