Pakhtakor last met Al Wahda in the quarter-finals of the 2004 AFC Champions League, with the eight-time Uzbek champions drawing 1-1 in Abu Dhabi before booking their ticket to the last four with a resounding 4-0 home win in the return fixture.

Friday’s game with Al Wahda will be Pakhtakor’s second of a winter break in the UAE following their goalless draw with Al Shaab on Monday.