Bunyodkor were pooled with Saudi giants Al Ittihad, Iran’s Persepolis and UAE’s Al Wahda for the continent’s premier club competition on Tuesday.

Bunyodkor defeated the two-time Asian champions 3-0 at home before holding them 1-1 away in Jeddah in the group stage of the last edition. They also thrashed Al Wahda 2-1 and 4-1 last year.

“All the teams in our group are strong contenders but the most important thing that our group does not have a mysterious team like Zob Ahan,” Kasimov told the-afc.com.

Zob Ahan surprised by finishing runners-up to Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the 2010 edition of the AFC Champions League.

“We have played all the teams in our group before and had a good result against them. We played against Persepolis in the Round of 16 in 2009 and emerged victorious,” he said.

“All teams playing in this competition are strong and no team is easier to beat.”