It promises to be an absorbing Group A tie and the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures ahead of the match at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.

Debutants aiming for joy
Should Tajikistan defeat China PR, they will be the first side since Uzbekistan in the 1996 edition to win their debut AFC Asian Cup match.

Perfect record
China PR have won their opening game in each of past four editions of AFC Asian Cup, outscoring their opponents 10-2, having won just one in previous eight such games (D4 L3).

On a mission
China PR ended their AFC Asian Cup 2019 campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Korea Republic and will be determined to not lose to Tajikistan, having not lost consecutive group matches since September 1980.

Bad streak
China PR have lost five of their last seven matches (W2 – including friendlies), as many as in previous 14 such games (W3 D6). China PR have lost each of past three matches, their joint-longest such streak since the beginning of December 2003.