Loss optimistic of Buriram’s progression; Bidoglio prepares for JDT's home challenge

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Loss optimistic of Buriram’s progression; Bidoglio prepares for JDT's home challenge

Buriram: Head coach Osmar Loss declared that Buriram United delivered a ‘perfect’ performance despite settling for a 0-0 draw against Johor Darul Ta’zim in their AFC Champions League Elite™ Round of 16 first leg tie on Tuesday.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances at Buriram Stadium, the Thai side was unable to break the deadlock, leaving the tie evenly poised heading into the return leg next week.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-r16-1st-leg-buriram-united-tha-0-0-johor-darul-tazim-mas-1

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R16 - 1st Leg: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 1-3 Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

R16 - 1st Leg: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 1-3 Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Al Rayyan: Al Ahli Saudi FC took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 after defeating Al Rayyan 3-1 in their Round of 16 first leg tie at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday.

The Saudi Arabian side led through goals from Galeno and Riyad Mahrez with Roger Guedes pulling one back for Qatar’s Al Rayyan but substitute Firas Al Brikan netted the third in stoppage time to give Al Ahli a healthy advantage to take home to Jeddah for next week’s return leg. 

R16 - 1st Leg: Pakhtakor (UZB) 1-0 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

R16 - 1st Leg: Pakhtakor (UZB) 1-0 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Tashkent: Flamarion scored the only goal of the game as Pakhtakor stunned Al Hilal SFC 1-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie at the JAR Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakhtakor fully deserved the win and Al Hilal, who have slumped in recent weeks, will have to rediscover their best form in next week’s return leg at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh if they are to keep their hopes of a fifth Asian title alive. 

R16 - 1st Leg: Buriram United FC (THA) 0-0 Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS)

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

R16 - 1st Leg: Buriram United FC (THA) 0-0 Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS)

Buriram: Buriram United and Johor Darul Ta’zim will go into the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 clash next week with nothing between them after the pair played out a tense 0-0 draw at Buriram Stadium on Tuesday.

Neither side was able to find a way through during the 90 minutes, with Suphanat Mueanta going closest to giving Osmar Loss’ side an advantage only to see visiting goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre making a fine save from the forward’s header with 25 minutes remaining.

The result was a re-run of the Southeast Asian rivals’ meeting in the league phase and the pair will meet again at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor next Tuesday with a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite at stake.

R16 - 1st Leg: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 0-1 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

R16 - 1st Leg: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 0-1 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Shanghai: Yokohama F Marinos will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 meeting with Shanghai Port next week after Anderson Lopes earned last year’s runners-up a narrow-but-deserved victory at Pudong Stadium on Tuesday.

Lopes struck in the 30th minute to leave the tie evenly poised ahead of the return at International Stadium in Yokohama next week as the Japanese outfit look to progress to the quarter-final draw for the second season in a row.

Preview - QF (1st Leg): Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Sydney FC (AUS)

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Preview - QF (1st Leg): Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Sydney FC (AUS)

Yongin: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC will be determined to take a healthy lead when they face Sydney FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 quarter-final on Thursday.

The two-time Asian champions suffered a harrowing 2024 domestically but did just enough in their continental challenge and a place in the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals will help convince their fans that they are back on track.

QF - 1st Leg: Tractor FC (IRN) 0-0 Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

QF - 1st Leg: Tractor FC (IRN) 0-0 Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Tabriz: Tractor FC of Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun FC played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 quarter-final first leg tie at the Yadegar-E-Imam Stadium on Tuesday.

Al Taawoun keeper Abdulquddus Atiiay had to be at his best, making saves from Tractor’s Tomislav Strkalj, Ricardo Alves and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh to keep his team in the game going into the second leg.

Al Wasl’s Milojevic, Al Sadd’s Sanchez confident of advancing

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Al Wasl’s Milojevic, Al Sadd’s Sanchez confident of advancing

Dubai: Al Wasl head coach Milos Milojevic believes his team were the superior side despite settling for a 1-1 draw against Al Sadd  in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Monday.

An early Ali Saleh strike was canceled out by a powerful Abdulla Al Yazidi header in the second half leaving both teams with everything to play for next week's second leg in Doha.

Missed chances frustrate Al Nassr’s Pioli; Bozovic praises Esteghlal’s defensive grit

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Missed chances frustrate Al Nassr’s Pioli; Bozovic praises Esteghlal’s defensive grit

Tehran: Al Nassr Club head coach Stefano Pioli expressed dismay over his team's inability to convert their chances in the tense 0-0 draw with Esteghlal FC in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg at the Azadi Stadium on Monday.

Despite missing Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte, Al Nassr dominated large spells of the match and created several clear-cut opportunities without converting, leaving the tie finely balanced with the return leg to be played next week.