#ACL - West: Round of 16 cast finalised

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

#ACL - West: Round of 16 cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 West Zone Round of 16 cast was finalised on Tuesday following the conclusion of the group stage.

Three former champions were among the eight teams who advanced, with the draw to be conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 28.

Group A: Al Fayha upstage Pakhtakor to advance

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group A: Al Fayha upstage Pakhtakor to advance

Tashkent: Al Fayha came from behind to defeat Pakhtakor 4-1 in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 at the Bunyodkor Stadium on Tuesday.

The result saw AFC Champions League debutants Al Fayha finish as runners-up in the group, with their nine points taking them into the Round of 16 as one of the three best second-placed teams in the West Zone. 

Group A: Al Ain edge gritty Ahal

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group A: Al Ain edge gritty Ahal

Ashgabat: A pair of first half penalties earned Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates a 2-1 win in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 over Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC on Tuesday as Hernan Crespo’s much-changed side finished the group phase on a high.

Souifane Rahimi put the former champions ahead from the spot in the 13th minute before another penalty from Omer Atzili gave Al Ain a two-goal cushion in the 32nd minute that was soon reduced by Elman Tagayew’s strike three minutes later.

The win moves Al Ain, who had already secured their spot in the last 16 as group winners, onto 15 points from their six games while Ahal remain rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Group E: Istiklol hold Al Nassr

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group E: Istiklol hold Al Nassr

Dushanbe: Abdulrahman Ghareeb scored five minutes into the second half to earn Al Nassr a 1-1 draw with FC Istiklol in Dushanbe on Tuesday as the Saudi Pro League side ended their Group E campaign in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 unbeaten.

Ghareeb netted the equaliser after Alisher Dzhalilov had given the lead to the home side, who had already been eliminated, in the 32nd minute as Istiklol picked up their third draw of the group phase while Al Nassr moved onto 14 points from six games.

With their place in the last 16 already secured, Luis Castro made a host of changes to Al Nassr team with Cristiano Ronaldo not included in the match day squad and Anderson Talisca, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane among those starting on the bench.

Group E: Al Duhail end Persepolis' run

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group E: Al Duhail end Persepolis' run

Tehran: Al Duhail came from behind to beat Persepolis 2-1 in the final game of Group E of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 at Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.

Al Duhail had already been eliminated going into their final match while Persepolis' slim hopes depended on them collecting the three points at home, with the defeat ending their campaign.

Preview - Group J: Hanoi FC (VIE) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Preview - Group J: Hanoi FC (VIE) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Hanoi: Urawa Red Diamonds are set for an anxious wait even if they defeat hosts Hanoi FC in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group J tie on Wednesday. 

With Korea Republic's Pohang Steelers having already been confirmed as the group winners, Urawa's only hope of advancing is by grabbing one of the spots available to the three best second-placed teams from the East Zone.

Preview - Group J: Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN) v Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Preview - Group J: Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN) v Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Wuhan: Pohang Steelers' mission will be to conclude their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 group stage campaign with a perfect record of six wins when they travel to face Wuhan Three Town on Wednesday. 

Having confirmed themselves as the Group J winners with two matches to spare, a sixth consecutive victory will set the Korea Republic side up nicely for the Round of 16.

Al Ittihad's Gallardo pining for Benzema, Kante's return

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Al Ittihad's Gallardo pining for Benzema, Kante's return

Mekkah: Marcelo Gallardo is hoping for the quick return of his best players after Al Ittihad concluded their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 group stage campaign with a 2-1 win over Sepahan FC on Monday. 

Al Ittihad’s victory saw the Saudi Arabian club top Group C with 15 points, while Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan finished five adrift in second place with their Round of 16 hopes hanging in the balance. 

Al Hilal's winning mentality pleases Jesus

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Al Hilal's winning mentality pleases Jesus

Riyadh: Jorge Jesus applauded his players' winning mentality after Al Hilal SFC concluded their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 group stage campaign with a 2-1 defeat of Nassaji Mazandaran on Monday.

The result saw two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal topping Group D with 16 points, with Uzbekistan's Navbahor also advancing to the Round of 16.
 
Islamic Republic of Iran's Nassaji ended their debut campaign in third place with six points. 

Hayel expects more from Al Faisaly after historic campaign

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Hayel expects more from Al Faisaly after historic campaign

Amman: Head coach Ahmed Hayel wants his Al Faisaly players to use their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 experience to excel domestically.

The Jordanian side brought the curtains down on their debut season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Sharjah FC on Monday, with the result ending the United Arab Emirates club's Round of 16 hopes.
 
For Al Faisaly, the win was their second after having defeated Al Sadd SC of Qatar on Matchday Four.