The side from Korea Republic played out a scoreless draw with Sydney FC in Australia last week before returning home and repeating the scoreline against Gangwon in K League 1 on Sunday.

Ulsan and Shanghai met for the first time in the competition last year, playing out a 2-2 draw in Shanghai then, a year to the day before Wednesday’s meeting, the Chinese side won 1-0 in Ulsan.

The Thai side won the first leg 3-2 at Buriram Stadium last year before being eliminated following a 2-0 defeat in Korea Republic, but the hosts will be hopeful that home backing can again prove inspirational against the two-time champions.

Buriram lost their opening Group G game 3-0 against 2017 winners Urawa Red Diamonds but returned to Thailand to post their first Thai League 1 victory this season after seeing off Prachuap 2-0 on Saturday.

Zhang Xizhe drew Beijing level with Jeonbuk on Matchday One last week before they eventually lost 3-1; however, they responded in perfect fashion by posting a 4-0 victory over Chongqing Dangdai on Saturday to maintain their 100 percent start in the Chinese Super League.

Beijing twice faced Urawa in the 2015 group stage, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 1-1 in Japan with forward Yu Dabao scoring in both games as they ultimately advanced while Urawa exited.

Backed by a capacity crowd at Karbala Sport City Stadium, Al Zawraa started on the front foot as Abbas tested Al Wasl goalkeeper Humaid Abdulla from range 17 minutes in, but the Emirati goalkeeper tipped the shot behind for a corner.

The home crowd were sent into raptures as Al Zawraa skipper Samal Saeed fired home the opening goal halfway through the opening period.

The defender capitalised on a poor headed clearance by Abdulla Jassim to take the ball on the half-volley with his left, leaving the goalkeeper watching as his thunderous strike nestled into the back of the net.

Al Nassr wasted no time in getting down to business as Brazilian midfielder Giuliano fired them in front just four minutes into the match.

Giuliano found space inside the Zobahan box and swept home from close range after Hamad Al Mansour advanced on the right and sent a low cross.

Lokomotiv had collected all three points in their opening fixture at home against Al Wahda, while Al Rayyan were subjected to a 5-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad last week in Jeddah.

The visitors came racing off the blocks and stormed into the lead within four minutes of kick-off to the stunned silence of the home crowd.

Temurkhuja Abdukholikov outmuscled Rodrigo Tabata in midfield to gain possession of the ball and exchanged passes with Jamshid Iskanderov before crossing for Diyorjon Turapov who tapped in at the far post to give Lokomotiv the lead early on.

The hosts took the game to their opponents’ half from the start and Leonardo was a constant nuisance for the Ittihad defence as he repeatedly tried his luck from outside the box in the opening quarter of an hour.

The Clarets took the lead 16 minutes into the game following a lapse of concentration from Ittihad captain Ahmed Asiri.