Aug 25- The anticipation for this season’s Asian Champions League continues to mount as the much-awaited group stage draw was held in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The fate of 40 top-tier football clubs was determined, mapping out a path that promises intense battles and riveting encounters.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Nassr, is set to initiate their Asian Champions League journey with a spirited face-off against Iran’s formidable Persepolis next month in Tehran. Meanwhile, reigning champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan are poised to lock horns with Chinese titleholders Wuhan Three Towns.
Urawa’s journey to the group stage involved a tense playoff victory against Hong Kong’s Lee Man, eventually leading them to be drawn in Group J. Alongside them, they will face South Korea’s 2021 runners-up Pohang Steelers and Vietnam’s determined Hanoi FC.
Al-Nassr’s qualification route was equally demanding, culminating in a hard-fought 4-2 triumph over the United Arab Emirates’ Shabab Al-Ahli. Under the guidance of coach Luis Castro, Al-Nassr is pitted against Qatar’s Al-Duhail and FC Istiklol from Tajikistan in Group E.
The seasoned Al-Hilal, now bolstered by the high-profile addition of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, begins their Group D campaign against Uzbekistan’s Navbahor. The Saudi side will also go head-to-head with Iran’s FC Nassaji Mazandaran and India’s Mumbai City, setting the stage for intense encounters and showcasing the global reach of the sport.
The eagerly anticipated group phase of the Asian Champions League will kick off on September 18, igniting the passion of football enthusiasts across the continent. The participating clubs have been strategically divided into five groups each for the western and eastern regions.
Success in the group stage promises an entry into the knockout rounds, where the 10 group winners will be joined by the three most accomplished runners-up from both the western and eastern sections of the draw. The knockout phase is scheduled to commence on February 12, culminating in the final showdown on May 11 and 18. The two-legged final will determine the ultimate champion from each side of the continent.
The recently unveiled group stage draw has set the stage for a series of enthralling football clashes, showcasing the diversity and skill of teams from across the continent. Fans can expect a showcase of football brilliance as these clubs vie for supremacy in the prestigious Asian Champions League.
Asian Champions League Group Stage Draw Overview:
Group A: Pakhtakor (UZB), Al-Fayha (KSA), Ahal FC (TKM), Al-Ain (UAE)
Group B: Al-Sadd (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al-Faisaly (JOR), Sharjah FC (UAE)
Group C: Al-Ittihad (KSA), Sepahan (IRN), Air Force Club (IRQ), AGMK FC (UZB)
Group D: Al-Hilal (KSA), FC Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN), Mumbai City (IND), Navbahor (UZB)
Group E: Persepolis (IRN), Al-Duhail (QAT), FC Istiklol (TJK), Al-Nassr (KSA)
Group F: Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Bangkok United (THA), Lion City Sailors (SIN), Kitchee (HKG)
Group G: Yokohama F Marinos (JPN), Shandong Taishan (CHN), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Incheon United (KOR)
Group H: Buriram United (THA), Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Melbourne City (AUS), Zhejiang FC (CHN)
Group I: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), BG Pathum United (THA)
Group J: Wuhan Three Towns (CHN), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Hanoi FC (VIE), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
