The 2010 runners-up Zobahan are competing in the tournament for the fourth successive year and they reached the Round of 16 in 2016 and 2018. Last year they won three of their four games at Foolad Shahr Stadium.

The Isfahan side’s domestic form has been poor of late, having not won an Iranian Pro League match since August, and they currently languish near the relegation zone. They did, however, produce a stunning comeback from two down to defeat Qatar’s Al Gharafa 3-2 in the play-off round.

The thrilling Group B action will continue just hours later when two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia take on Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC, who will be looking to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.

Meanwhile in Group A, all eyes will be on Al Zawraa Club, who will be the first Iraqi side to feature in the competition’s group stage since 2008 when they travel to IR Iran to face Zobahan FC at the Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan at 7:00pm (local time). Dubai-based Al Wasl FC and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr complete the Group A action as both sides prepare to battle in the UAE at 7:20pm (local time).

Holders Kashima Antlers will be among the main draws, while Groups E to H feature a total of five former champions and three debutants in what promises to be an exciting round of fixtures.

Iraqi teams return to the AFC Champions League for the first time in over a decade as Al Zawraa line-up in Group A, while all three past winners from West Asia - Al Ain, Al Ittihad and Al Sadd - are present in the group stage.

The Iranian side had to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second half to progress to the group stage.

Al Gharafa broke the deadlock halfway through the opening period after midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim chested down a long pass and set up fellow Qatar international Ahmed Alaaeldin who fired first time with his left into the top corner for the hosts’ first of the game.

Alaaeldin turned from scorer to provider in the 36th minute, laying off the ball to Mehdi Taremi who slid home from the edge of the penalty box to double the Qatari side’s lead before the break.

The Emirati side endured a poor campaign on the continent, losing all six of their games, but return for the second successive year after finishing third in the 2017-18 UAE Pro League.

The Abu Dhabi side are having an inconsistent season domestically and they currently sit in the bottom half of the table, but they warmed up for their continental opener with a 2-1 victory over Emirates on Friday.

Al Wasl are back in the Continental competition for a second consecutive season, having not qualified to the AFC Champions League for a decade prior to their 2018 appearance.

The seven-time UAE champions may have only played in the AFC Champions League on two occasions since its inauguration in 2002-03, but the club has a proud tradition of competing in Asia, having reached the semi-finals of the Asian Club Championship in 1992 and the quarter-finals two years later.