The-afc.com takes a group-by-group look at the match-ups and how the teams fared in domestic competitions leading up to Match Day 3.

Group A

Esteghlal can overtake Al Gharafa at the top of the group with victory over the Qatar side on MD3. Gharafa are on four points, one ahead of the Iranian side.

Esteghlal’s previous domestic outing was a 1-0 home win over Pas-Hamadan last week while Gharafa strengthened their position at the top of the Q-League with a 4-1 win over Al Sadd on Friday.

Al Ahli, of Saudi Arabia, will be looking for their first win of the tournament at home to UAE’s Al Jazira. Last week, Ahli lost 3-1 away to Al Fath in the domestic league and Jazira drew 1-1 at Bani Yas to stay second in UAE.

Group B

Iran’s Zobahan will be looking to halt the Bunyodkor juggernaut at home. They have four points from two matches, two behind the Uzbeks, who would go five points ahead should they win.

Both sides are going great guns in their own leagues. Zobahan are second in Iran and Bunyodkor are two out of two in the recently launched Uzbek competition.

The other Group B match is between two teams who have yet to win – Saudi Arabia’s two-time Asian champions Al Ittihad and UAE’s Al Wahda, who are at home.

Ittihad took a major scalp domestically last week when they beat Saudi league leaders Al Hilal 2-1. Wahda also won, beating Al Wasl 2-0.

Group C

Uzbek side Pakhtakor take on Iran’s Sepahan at home with both sides aiming to kick-start their campaigns. The Uzbeks have three points from two matches, one ahead of Sepahan, who have yet to win.

Leading the group are Saudi side Al Shabab, who travel to former champions Al Ain, of UAE, on MD3. Al Ain have so far garnered only one point but one victory would put them back in the running.

Shabab suffered a setback in their preparations for the clash, losing 1-0 at home to Al Qadisiyah in the Saudi League. Al Ain also go in on the back of a domestic defeat, losing 2-1 away to Dhafra.

Group D

The match between Qatar’s Al Sadd and Mes Kerman, of Iran, in Doha has great significance with the winners likely to emerge as favourites to secure one of the top two spots.

Sadd will be looking to recover from their 4-1 Q-League loss to Gharafa. Mes last played on March 15, a 4-0 away victory over Foolad.

Both sides have three points and trail Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, who have won both their games. Al Hilal will be looking to make it three in a row at home to UAE’s Al Ahli.

Al Ahli may be underdogs against Hilal but they had a confidence-booster last week by beating Al Nasr 4-2 in the UAE league. Saudi leaders Hilal, though, suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Al Ittihad.

Group E

Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa host China’s Beijing Guoan in a table-topping clash with both teams hoping to continue their 100 per cent records.

The K-League is only a month old but Seongnam are already among the leaders and drew 1-1 with leaders Jeonbuk Motors at the weekend.

Trying to keep up will be Aussies Melbourne Victory and Kawasaki Frontale, of Japan, both of whom have lost all their matches so far. Kawasaki are at home against Victory on MD3.

Melbourne will try to recover from their penalty shootout loss to Sydney FC in the A-League Grand Final while Kawasaki are also reeling from their 4-0 J.League defeat away to Yokohama Marinos.

Group F

Leaders Kashima Antlers, of Japan, should be confident of notching their third straight win at home to Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura, still shellshocked from their 9-0 loss to Changchun Yatai on MD2.

Changchun, meanwhile, are at home to Koreans Jeonbuk Motors with both teams on three points from two matches.

Kashima are on the back of a 1-0 away win over Omiya in the J.League while Persipura had a 0-0 draw away to Persiba.

Jeonbuk maintained their K-League win over the weekend despite a 1-1 home draw with Seongnam.

Group G

Suwon Bluewings, of Korea Republic, lead the group on four points and will be hoping to extend their advantage away to China’s Henan Jianye, who are two points adrift.

Suwon won their second game of the month-old K-League season, beating Incheon United 2-1 to stay mid-table.

Also on two points are 2008 ACL winners Gamba Osaka, of Japan, who travel to face Singapore Armed Forces at Jalan Besar Stadium. The Singaporeans are bottom with one point.

Gamba struggled in their latest J.League match – a 0-0 draw at home to Albirex Niigata. SAF lost 1-0 away to Gombak last week and are third in the S-League.

Group H

Australia’s 2008 finalists Adelaide United have been in solid form so far, winning both their group matches and hope to continue their run at home to ACL newcomers and bottom side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Hiroshima are on a roll in the J.League, beating Shonan Bellmare 3-1 away on Saturday for second place.

Defending champions Pohang Steelers, meanwhile, have a tough home clash against Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng. Both teams are on three points.

Pohang geared up for the clash with a 4-0 K-League home win over Gangwon, that moved them into fourth place.