Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: The dust has yet to settle after another heart-breaking AFC Champions League final defeat, but Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal will look to start afresh and make amends, having learnt of their opponents in the group stage draw for next year's event.
Earlier this week, the draw for the 2018 AFC Champions League placed Al Hilal in Group D, setting the stage for a series of mouth-watering clashes. The Saudi giants have been drawn alongside Esteghlal, Al Rayyan and the winner of the play-off between Al Ain and Al Malkiya.
Al Hilal and Esteghlal have a history between them in Asian competitions and memorably faced off in the final of the 1991 Asian Club Championship, when the former came out on top to become the first Saudi side to win the Asian title.
Qatar's Al Rayyan are also familiar opponents for Al Hilal, after the teams played out two epic encounters in the group stage in 2017, both of which were won by Al Hilal.
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