The two-time champions went close to exiting at the Group Stage for just the second time in their proud eight-tournament history, but they were indebted to their former FC Barcelona midfielder once more.

Only victory over visitors Daegu FC would suffice for Fabio Cannavaro's side to leapfrog the Koreans into the runners-up spot in Group F and it was Paulinho's 64th minute intervention that proved to be the difference-maker.

Chinese Super League side Guangzhou had to win at Tianhe Stadium to qualify as runners-up from Group F behind Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, with Korean FA Cup winners Daegu only needing a draw to progress.

And it was the home side who claimed the result they needed as Huang Bowen’s corner found the back of the net, with Guangzhou's Paulinho credited with the goal despite Jeong Tae-wook appearing to turn the ball into his own net from the edge of the six-yard area just after the hour mark.

The defeat, with Mahdi Torabi and Ali Alipour scoring for 2018 finalists Persepolis, came just four days after Al Sadd had lost the Qatar Amir Cup final to Al Duhail.

It was not the farewell Al Sadd wanted to give retiring Spanish legend Xavi but forward Akram Afif admitted that Al Sadd had not been at their best in both matches.

The K League side were unable to break down Buriram’s well-organised back line throughout the 90 minutes at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, but the result mattered little as Morais and his team had already guaranteed themselves top spot in the group.

Castaignos was on target for Gyeongnam as they defeated Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-0 and his goal briefly meant, with Kashima trailing against Shandong Luneng in the other game in Group E on Wednesday, that the K League side was on track to advance to the Round of 16.

But with defending champions staging a comeback to win 2-1 to join the Chinese Super League side in the Round of 16, the efforts of the Dutchman and his teammates turned out to be in vain.

Nagasawa came off the bench with only 13 minutes on the clock after Kashiwagi had picked up an early knock, and by the 34th minute he had scored the opener before laying the ball off for Yuki Muto to double Urawa’s lead seven minutes later.

That crucial intervention meant Urawa picked up a win that guaranteed their progress to the next round, where they will meet 2012 champions Ulsan Hyundai in the Round of 16.

A pacey and clinical striker at his peak, Majidi was a key member of the Al Ain side that lifted the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2002-03.

In the semi-final against China PR’s Dalian Shide, Al Ain had won the first leg at home 4-2, but the Chinese side had clawed the difference, winning 4-2 in Dalian. That is until Majidi received the ball on the edge of the area, dribbled past one defender and finished into the bottom corner to send his side to the final with a 7-6 aggregate score.