AFC - AFC Champions League will kick off Tuesday as Iranian giants Persepolis and Esteqlal take on the UAE and Saudi Arabia rivals respectively.

Four Iranian clubs which were qualified to take part in Asia's top club competition are Saba Battery, Persepolis, Esteqlal, and Foulad Sepahan.

In Group A, Saba is in the Saudi's capital city of Riyadh to play with al-Hilal on Tuesday.

Persepolis hosts al-Sharjeh at Tehran's 100,000-seat Azadi Stadium in Group B.

Persepolis Portuguese head coach Nelo Vingada said, "I know al-Sharjeh completely. We will play for the three points."

In Group C, Saudi's al-Ittihad is at home to play with heavyweights Esteqlal on Wednesday.

Esteqlal head coach Amir Qalenoie said, "We have special programs for the match against al-Ittihad. There are no problems as we have great players."

Elsewhere, Foulad Sepahan from Iran faces al-Shabab from the United Arab Emirates.

The competition has been expanded from 28 to 32 teams with new rules restricting each team to a maximum of four foreign players.

The group stages wrap up on May 20 with the knockout rounds starting later that month ahead of the final in Japan in November.

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