TEHRAN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- 2018 AFC Champions League runners-up Persepolis get their 2019 campaign underway when they host Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in Group D at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.

Iranian outfit Persepolis produced an excellent performance last year to reach the final for the first time before losing to Kashima Antlers, as they continued their upward momentum having progressed to the semifinals a year previously.

Branko Ivankovic's side have won the Iran Pro League for the last two years and moved to the top of the standings once more last week after a 1-0 victory over Sanat Naft.

Formerly AFC Champions League regulars, Pakhtakor return for the first time since 2016 after defeating Iraq's Air Force Club and the United Arab Emirates' Al Nasr in the qualifying rounds.

The Uzbek side, who are without the suspended Odiljon Xamrobekov, won their only previous AFC Champions League meeting with Persepolis when they claimed a 1-0 victory in Tashkent in 2003.