AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Hero I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC will lock their horns with Saipa FC in the AFC Champions League 2019 Preliminary Round 2 at the Shahr-e Qods Stadium in Tehran on February 12, 2019.

The winners of the one-leg preliminary round 2 fixture will have to face Al-Rayyan SC from Qatar in the Play-off round to seal the berth in the AFC Champions League 2019 round robin stage.

On the other hand, if Minerva fail to advance to the AFC Champions League round robin stage, they’ll qualify to AFC Cup 2019 group E where they’ll need to clash their swords with Dhaka Abahani (Bangladesh), Manang Marshyangdi Club (Nepal) and the winners of play-off from South Asia.

The Punjab-based outfit finished at the top of the table with 35 points from 18 matches to clinch their maiden Hero I-League trophy on the final day of the league to confirm their participation in the continental stage.

The match will kick-off at 7:10 PM IST tomorrow.