Both sides had learnt their fate after a 1-1 draw in the other Monday fixture meant Al Hilal and Al Duhail confirmed their places in the Round of 16 while Al Ain would join Esteghlal in being eliminated at the group stage regardless of remaining results.

Esteghlal came into the Matchday Five fixture in the knowledge that only a win could keep their qualification hopes alive, and they started brightly, coming within inches of opening the scoring in the 12th minute.

South African midfielder Ayanda Patosi beat Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine Lecomte with a curled free-kick from 30 yards out. Esteghlal were, however, denied the opener as Patosi’s ball struck the upright.

Al Duhail responded from a similar set-piece through Bassam Al Rawi, but the Qatari international’s strike passed narrowly wide of the post.

The hosts showed their attacking intent from the start, creating their first big chance inside 60 seconds of kick-off. Akram Afif and Xavi exchanged passes down the right and the Spanish midfielder squared the ball for Baghdad Bounedjah who took it first time, but Al Ahli goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais showed quick reflexes to catch the ball.

Jesualdo Ferreira’s side looked to apply high press to regain possession deep into the opposition half. Afif was successful in doing so in the ninth minute, when he dispossessed Saeed Al Muwallad then supplied a perfectly weighted diagonal pass to Ali Asad who controlled then hit on the half-volley with his left past Al Owais for Al Sadd’s first of the night.

The 2018 finalists came into the match needing a victory to boost their hopes of reaching the Round of 16, instead Persepolis were eliminated from the Continental tournament.

All teams across the four groups are still in contention for qualification to the Round of 16, setting up some tasty encounters in the eight matches taking place across Monday and Tuesday.

AFC Champions League winners in 2017, Urawa were bitterly disappointed to miss out on the chance to retain their crown in 2018 after failing to qualify for the tournament.

So, for many at the club, the 2019 edition has acted like a title defence for the Saitama side. And yet it has not gone quite to plan.

A tough Group G sees them third with just four points going into Matchday Five, and Australia international Nabbout insists that nothing less than victory in Buriram will do.

Korea Republic's Ulsan knows what it takes to win the AFC Champions League and, moreover, they know what it takes to do so unbeaten having done just that in the 2012 edition.

While it is far too early to say, the 2019 version of the team is set to replicate this, they have certainly begun in similar fashion having not lost in their first four fixtures, and are one of just three sides yet to taste defeat.

The-AFC.com spoke exclusively to Ulsan's Norway-born United States international Diskerud to get his views on the tournament so far, how deep the Korean club can go, and what lies in store for Tuesday's tie with Sydney FC.