AFC Champions League fixtures on Tuesday: When Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane are in action | OneFootball

After outscoring every player in the history of the UEFA Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo will get his first stab at Asia's equivalent on Tuesday night.

Al Nassr's talisman is the leading scorer from the early weeks of the revamped Saudi Pro League, closely followed by his teammate Sadio Mane. Both players have hoisted aloft Europe's big-eared pot and begin their quest for AFC glory in a group stage where only the winners are guaranteed progress to the knockout rounds.

Ronaldo and Mane are at the sharp end of one of 40 clubs from 20 different countries battling it out in Asia's premier club competition. Here's everything you need to know about Tuesday's slate of fixtures.

Persepolis vs Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo is the leading scorer in the Saudi Pro League / ABDULAZIZ ALNOMAN/GettyImages

Reigning and record Iranian champions Persepolis are the lofty opponents for Ronaldo and Mane's ACL bow. The Tehran giants have not conceded a goal scored by an opposition player this season in their quest for a 16th league title.

Persepolis have never won the Champions League but did reach the final as recently as 2018 and 2020.

Ronaldo and Mane bounce into the continental competition in superb form. Both players have scored in each of Al Nassr's last four matches, all of which have ended in victory. However, the prolific duo are not the only star names on the club's roster. Less than four months ago, Marcelo Brozovic started for Inter in the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City.

Ulsan Hyundai vs BG Pathum United

Ulsan Hyundai won the AFC Champions League in 2012 and 2020 / Yong Teck Lim/GettyImages

Despite finishing ninth in the Thai top flight last season, BG Pathum United wangled a way into this year's Champions League group stage courtesy of their runners-up position in 2022. Ulsan Hyundai, two-time continental champions, added a South Korean league title to a busy trophy cabinet last year.

Yokohama F. Marinos vs Incheon United

Yokohama F. Marinos are part of Manchester City's multi-club project / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages

Yokohama F. Marinos, one of the clubs under the City Football Group umbrella which includes English champions Manchester City, may have one eye on domestic duties this weekend.

While Incheon United are a middling side in the K-League, Yokohama face third-placed Kashima Antlers on Sunday, with league-leading Vissel Kobe just one point ahead while seven games of the season remain.

Kaya FC vs Shandong Taishan

Kaya FC was only founded in 1996 - 13 members of the current squad are older than the club / Steve Christo - Corbis/GettyImages

Filipino champions Kaya FC host Chinese side Shandong Taishan. Graziano Pelle has long since moved on from Shandong but the CSL outfit have improved in his absence, going into Tuesday's group opener sitting second in the league.

Johor Darul Ta'zim vs Kawasaki Frontale

Former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis plays for Kawasaki Frontale / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages

It's safe to say that Johor Darul Ta'zim have outgrown the Malaysia top flight. JDT are on course for a tenth consecutive title and racked up double digits in a cup tie last month.

Kawasaki Frontale may be bouncing around mid-table but the superiority of the J1 League ensures that JDT will actually be tested in this continental clash.

Pakhtakor vs Al Ain

Pakhtakor manager Maksim Shatskikh scored 11 UEFA Champions League goals as a player for Dynamo Kyiv / Kiyoshi Ota/GettyImages

Pakhtakor manager Maksim Shatskikh had plenty of experience as a player in Europe's Champions League with Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv at the turn of the century, although he was handed the impossible task of replacing the legendary Andriy Shevchenko up front.

Shatskikh's Uzbek champions host UAE outfit Al Ain, who are owned by the nation's president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

Istiklol vs Al Duhail

Kenyan striker Michael Olunga leads the line for Al Duhail / ATPImages/GettyImages

Al Duhail were not one of the Qatari sides to inherit Paris Saint-Germain's cast-offs. Marco Verratti and Abdou Diallo moved to Al Arabi while Al Ahly helped balance PSG's books with the acquisition of Julian Draxler.

Reigning champions Al Duhail only signed one player for a fee this summer. They will take Finnish centre-back Robin Tihi with them on the trip to Tajikistan to face Istiklol on Tuesday.

Ahal vs Al Fayha

Al Fayha did no enjoy the same level of investment as the four Saudi sides owned by PIF / ABDULAZIZ ALNOMAN/GettyImages

After finishing as runners-up five times on the spin, Ahal finally won the Turkmen top flight last year. The long-awaited champions host Saudi side Al Fayha looking for their second-ever Champions League victory.