The significant decision marks the first time since the suspension of the tournament in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic that spectators will be allowed to return to the stadium for an AFC Champions League match.

Eleven months and five days since Bahrain’s Riffa SC beat Chennai City of India 1-0 in the first preliminary round, it is down to two iconic sides and one clash that will determine the winners of the 18th edition of the AFC Champions League.

Both Persepolis and Ulsan Hyundai are appearing in their second final, with the Koreans having defeated Al Ahli Saudi FC to win the 2012 title and Persepolis having lost the 2018 final to Japan’s Kashima Antlers.

Both sides have produced remarkable runs since the Continental competition resumed in Qatar with Ulsan winning all eight of their games to progress to their first final since winning the competition in 2012, and Persepolis coming out on top in seven of their eight matches to return to the showpiece event for the second time in three years.

Now, as the countdown continues to Asia's biggest club fixture of the year, the-AFC.com takes a statistical look at the key players from each side, starting with those in the heart of defence.

Ahead of Saturday’s final, the-AFC.com takes a statistical look at key players for Ulsan and Persepolis in defence, midfield and attack.

Having compared defenders Dave Bulthuis and Persepolis’ Hossein Kanaani, our attention turns to two men creating magic from midfield.

The-AFC.com spoke to two greats of the Asian game to get their views on how things will pan out when teams from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic come together in the biggest Continental club clash of the year for just the second time in the competition's history.

In 17 previous editions of the AFC Champions League final, fans of Asian football have seen world class players, fabulous goals, stunning comebacks and record-breaking achievements in a competition that has taken Asian football to the next level.

As the-AFC-com continues to look back on the finale of the Continent's biggest club competition, we take a trip down memory lane to bring you five of the most memorable finals since the tournament launched in 2002-03.

Don't forget to tell us which was your favourite AFC champions League final in the poll at the foot of the article.

As we count down to the 2020 AFC Champions League final between FC Persepolis and Ulsan Hyundai FC, the-AFC.com looks back on the achievements of PAS Tehran, the last Iranian club to be crowned Asian champions.

Thanks to Mohsen Garousi's match-winning goal, PAS won the 1992-93 Asian Club Championship against Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia. Now, 27 years on and on the eve of another momentous occasion for Iranian football, Garousi relives his experience.