QNB Stars League’s defending champions Al Duhail will be eager to continue their winning run in the AFC Champions League when they take on Iran’s Persepolis in their quarterfinal first leg.

The match will kick off at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday, 28th August, at 18:30.

Al Duhail, under Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul who replaced Algerian Djamel Belmadi, are the only side in this year’s premier continental competition with a 100 per cent record. After eight victories from as many games, The Red Knights will equal 2012 champions Ulsan Hyundai’s nine straight wins if they beat Persepolis at home.

The top Qatari team had won all six matches in Group B, that also included the UAE’s Al Wahda, Iran’s Zob Ahan and Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv, to finish with a perfect 18 points.

Al Duhail then registered an 8-3 aggregate victory over the UAE’s Al Ain in the Round of 16 to book their quarterfinal dates with Persepolis.

On the other hand, Persepolis underlined their credentials by topping Group C ahead of another top Qatari side Al Sadd, the UAE’s Al Wasl and Uzbekistan’s Nasaf.

They booked a second successive quarterfinal berth with a dramatic late victory over the UAE’s Al Jazira in the last 16.

Al Duhail are currently second in the QNB Stars League standings behind Al Sadd on goal difference, with both teams collecting seven points after three  rounds.

Al Duhail will be without the services of forward Ismail Mohammed and midfielder Karim Boudiaf as they both are recuperating after surgery. However, they have the likes of influential South Korean attacking midfielder Nam Tae-Hee, Moroccan spearhead Yousef El Arabi, new recruit from Brazil Paolo Edmilson, young striker Almoez Ali and defender Lucas Mendes.

El Arabi was the QNB Stars League’s top scorer in the last two seasons.

Iranian striker Ali Alipour leads Persepolis’ charge.

The return leg will be played at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on 17th September.