The group stage of the AFC Champions League , with eight clubs securing their places in the Round of 16 and ushering in a new phase of continental competition. The final list of qualifiers features a strong Saudi Arabian presence, with clubs occupying high positions, setting the stage for some high-profile clashes in the upcoming knockout rounds.
Ranking of qualified Western clubs
According to the official results, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia topped the standings, confirming their readiness to compete for the continental title. The ranking of the eight qualified clubs is as follows:
- First place: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- Second place: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
- Third place: Tractor (Iran)
- Fourth place: Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
- Fifth place: Al Wahda (UAE)
- Sixth place: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)
- Seventh place: Al-Duhail (Qatar)
- Eighth place: Al Sadd (Qatar)
Details of the Round of 16 matches
Based on the tournament system that brings together the leader and the last in the qualifying list, and the runner-up with the second-to-last, the calculations resulted in purely Arab and Gulf confrontations that promise a lot of excitement and competitiveness, which will be held on a home-and-away basis:
- Al Hilal vs Al Sadd: The Al Hilal leader faces its Qatari counterpart Al Sadd in a renewed Gulf classic, as Al Hilal seeks to exploit its lead to overcome the obstacle of the Qatari team that finished eighth.
- Al-Ahli vs Al-Duhail: Al-Ahli will clash with the other Qatari club, Al-Duhail, in a match where there is no room for compromise, as Al-Ahli aspires to translate its runner-up position into a comfortable qualification.
- Tractor vs Shabab Al Ahli: The Iranian team faces its Emirati counterpart in a theoretically balanced match between the third and sixth place holders.
- Al Ittihad vs Al Wahda: This round will witness a strong confrontation between Al Ittihad and Al Wahda of the UAE, in a match in which Al Ittihad seeks to confirm its continental strength.
The importance of the event and the continental context
This edition of the AFC Champions League is of exceptional importance, as it represents the new format of Asian competitions aimed at raising the technical and competitive level among the continent's clubs. The presence of three Saudi clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad) among the top four reflects the significant sporting boom Saudi football is experiencing and the substantial support its clubs receive, making them strong contenders to reach the final stages.
The Saudi-Qatari clashes (Al-Hilal vs. Al-Sadd, and Al-Ahli vs. Al-Duhail) bring to mind a long history of exciting competition between the clubs of the two countries in Asian tournaments, which guarantees wide public interest and intensive media coverage of these matches that will determine the features of the continent’s champion in its latest edition.
