AFC Champions League 2016 kicks off in India

The first preliminary round tie in the eastern zone of the Champions League took place at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium and saw Mohun Bagan register a 3-1 win. The Indian side will now take on Shandong Luneng FC of China PR in the second preliminary round at the Jinan Olympic Stadium on February 2.

The AFC Champions League 2015, won by Guangzhou Evergrande, also of China PR, shattered records for the competition with record attendances – more than 2.25 million – and huge television audiences of around 300 million.

Shin Man Gil, AFC Director of Competitions, said that the AFC Champions League was now firmly established as one of the world’s leading club competitions. He added: “Last year we saw that the clubs in the AFC Champions League were growing in stature and standard.

“The quality of football continues to grow and the competition was graced last season with some spectacular goals that will live long in the memory of the many millions who attended or tuned in.

‘The quality of the Asian club game can also be measured by the fact that the two teams from this region came third (Hiroshima Sanfrecce) and fourth (Guangzhou Evergrande) in the FIFA World Club Cup 2015 that was held in Japan at the end of last year.”

The full preliminary fixtures are (match times are currently stated as the LOCAL VENUE time):

Preliminary Stage 1

January 27, 2016
MOHUN BAGAN (IND) 3-1 TAMPINES ROVERS (SIN)
Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata

Preliminary Stage 2

February 2, 2016 (3pm)
SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN) vs MOHUN BAGAN (IND)
Venue: Jinan Olympic Sports Centre, Jinan

HANOI T&T (VIE) vs KITCHEE (HKG) (6pm)
Venue: Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi

CHONBURI FC (THA) vs YANGON UNITED (MYA) (7pm)
Venue: Chonburi Stadium, Chonburi

MUANGTHONG UNITED (THA) vs JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM (MAS) (7.30pm)
Venue: Thunderdome Stadium, Nonthaburi