Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Fayha FC (KSA), Ahal FC (TKM), Al Ain FC (UAE)

Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor will fancy their chances of advancing to the Round of 16 but will do well to tread carefully against their Group A opponents.

Debutants Al Fayha FC of Saudi Arabia will be out to impress while Turkmenistan's Ahal FC will aim to build on their 2022 performance which saw them accumulate four points.

Equally dangerous will be UAE's Al Ain FC, the inaugural AFC Champions League winners in 2003 but returning to the competition after a two-year absence. 

Al Sadd SC (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al Faisaly (JOR), Sharjah FC (UAE)

Qatar's Al Sadd SC will be on a mission to redeem themselves after failing to advance from the group stage in 2022. 

As luck would have it, Al Sadd will renew their rivalry with Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf, who finished ahead of them to advance into the Round of 16 as one of the best three West Zone runners-up in the previous edition.

Jordan's Al Faisaly will be eager to prove themselves in their first ever appearance in the AFC Champions League group stage while UAE's Sharjah FC will take to the competition with confidence after their impressive 3-1 away win against Islamic Republic of Iran's Tractor SC in the playoff round.

Al Ittihad (KSA), Sepahan SC (IRN), Air Force Club (IRQ), AGMK FC (UZB)

Star-studded Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad are the obvious candidates for top spot, having started their domestic season in fine form with three straight wins. 

Powered by French stars Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante together with Brazil's Fabinho, Al Ittihad will be confident of going all the way to add to the AFC Champions League titles won in 2004 and 2005. 

Their Group C opponents, however, will be relishing the opportunity of locking horns with them and Al Ittihad will do well to not take Iran’s Sepahan SC, Air Force Club of Iraq and Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC lightly. 

Al Hilal SFC (KSA), Nassaji Mazandaran FC (IRN), Mumbai City FC (IND), Navbahor (UZB)

Two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal SFC are equally laden with stars with Brazilian Neymar leading their challenge for a third title in five years. 

Runners-up last season, Al Hilal can also count on Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcom as well as local talisman Salem Al Dawsari. 

It won’t, however, be smooth sailing for Al Hilal with the tournament reverting to a home and away format, giving their challengers - Nassaji Mazandaran FC of Iran, India’s Mumbai City FC and Navbahor of Uzbekistan - a good chance of getting a result against their highly rated opponents. 

Persepolis FC (IRN), Al Duhail SC (QAT), FC Istiklol (TJK), Al Nassr (KSA)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s AFC Champions League debut will be highly anticipated but Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr know they are in for a tough challenge in Group E.

Despite the signing of an array of stars, Al Nassr started the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League season on a shaky note with two consecutive defeats before beating Al Fateh 5-0 on Friday, with Ronaldo netting a hat-trick and Sadio Mane contributing the other two goals.

That was preceded by a come from behind 4-2 win over UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in their AFC Champions League 2023/24 playoff and Al Nassr will feel they have turned the corner. 

However, Qatar champions Al Duhail SC have started their season on a high note, as have two-time AFC Champions League runners-up Persepolis in the Iran Pro League while Istiklol look well placed to defend their Tajikistan title, setting the stage for a enticing Group E.