The 12-time Uzbek champions reached the competition’s final four in the first two editions of the AFC Champions League in 2003 and 2004, but have since been unable to match this achievement; their best result being a quarter-final appearance in 2009.

While both Saudi teams have never won the competition, Al Ahli did reach the final in 2012, losing to Ulsan Hyundai 3-0. They have since reached the quarter-finals on two occasions; in 2013 and 2017. Al Nassr, meanwhile, are in the quarter-final for the second time in a row, having never reached this stage before 2019.

Despite Al Ahli having a relatively superior record in the AFC Champions League, Al Nassr boast nine Saudi Pro League titles to Al Ahli’s three. The two head coaches have taken different perspectives to a match that brings together two sides who know each other so well.

An all-Saudi Arabia clash between Al Nassr and Al Ahli and an encounter between Group B winners Pakhtakor and Group C winners Persepolis await on Wednesday as the four sides vie for a place in the competition’s final in December.

The quarter-finals draw, conducted in Doha on Monday, produced two tasty encounters with Group B winners Pakhtakor facing Group C winners Persepolis FC, while the other game features a clash of fellow Saudi heavyweights Al Nassr and Al Ahli Saudi FC.

Asian refereeing set new benchmarks earlier this year when the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 became the first AFC competition to successfully implement VAR across all 32 matches.

Now Asia’s premier club tournament will become the third AFC competition to embrace the latest in technology from the Quarter-finals after it was first introduced from the same stage of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

As has been the case throughout the tournament, there was high drama in the Round of 16 as the eight teams gave it their all in a bid to advance to the quarter-finals, with Monday's draw in Doha pitting Al Nassr against Al Ahli Saudi FC in an all-Saudi Arabia last eight tie with Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis to face Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor on Wednesday.

Doha: Persepolis FC's Isa Al Kasir has been voted by the fans as the 2020 AFC Champions League Round of 16 (WEST) Toyota Player of the Week.