AFC Champions League
With global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar making their debuts, eight former AFC Champions League winners in the fray and just as many teams making their first bows, the coming weeks promise more enthralling action.
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the thrills and spills of Matchday One.
Group A
Ahal FC (TKM) 1-0 Al Fayha (KSA)
Pakhtakor FC (UZB) 0-3 Al Ain FC (UAE)
Pakhtakor FC (UZB) 0-3 Al Ain FC (UAE)
There was no dream debut for Saudi Arabia's Al Fayha as Ahal FC made full use of home ground advantage to carve out a 1-0 win, with Elman Tagayew's 51st minute strike deciding the points at the Multi-Functional Stadium in Ashgabat.
The victory meant Ahal, competing in the group stage for only the second time, kept pace with UAE's Al Ain FC.
#ACL - Group A | Pakhtakor (UZB) 0-3 Al Ain (UAE)
Inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain were in sparkling form as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Pakhtakor FC of Uzbekistan, with Kodjo Laba netting a brace and Khalid Al Baloushi adding the third.
With both having registered opening day victories, their Matchday Two encounter at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on October 3 will be a chance to open an early gap at the top of the Group A standings.
Al Fayha will host Pakktakor at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium with both teams needing three points to get back on track for a place in the Round of 16.
Group B
Al Sadd SC (QAT) 0-0 Sharjah FC (UAE)
Al Faisaly (JOR) 0-1 FC Nasaf (UZB)
Al Faisaly (JOR) 0-1 FC Nasaf (UZB)
Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf were the big winners in Group B, with their 1-0 victory over Jordan's Al Faisaly giving them the early advantage at the top of the standings.
The win was sealed in dramatic fashion, with Zafarmurod Abdurahmatov netting in the seventh minute of added time at the Amman International Stadium.
#ACL - Group B | Faisaly FC (JOR) 0 - 1 FC Nasaf (UZB)
Former winners Al Sadd SC's campaign began with a goalless stalemate against Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates.
It was not the start Qatar's Al Sadd would have wanted in their bid to advance to the Round of 16 after group stage eliminations in the previous two editions of the AFC Champions League.
Another tough test awaits Al Sadd on Matchday Two, with Nasaf to host them at the Markaziy Stadium in Namangan on October 2. Sharjah, meanwhile, will count on home ground advantage to secure the points against Al Faisaly.
Group C
Air Force Club (IRQ) 2-2 Sepahan FC (IRN)
Al Ittihad FC (KSA) 3-0 AGMK FC (UZB)
Al Ittihad FC (KSA) 3-0 AGMK FC (UZB)
Two-time winners Al Ittihad FC marked their return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2019 in style as they cruised 3-0 past Uzbekistan's AGMK FC.
Brazilian forward Romarinho scored twice after Haroune Camara had opened the scoring at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.
#ACL - Group C | Al Ittihad (KSA) 3-0 AGMK FC (UZB)
The win secured Al Ittihad the early lead in Group C after the Air Force Club-Sepahan FC tie ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan looked to have taken the points after goals by Mohammad Daneshgar and Mohammad Ghorbani had erased Ali Jasim's opener, only for the 19-year-old to net the equaliser in the 88th minute at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil.
Al Ittihad will face another test of their credentials when they travel to face Sepahan on October 2, with AGMK hosting Air Force Club.
Group D
Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 1-1 Navbahor (UZB)
Mumbai City (IND) 0-2 Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN)
Mumbai City (IND) 0-2 Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN)
All eyes were on Al Hilal SFC but it was debutants Nassaji Mazandaran who stole the headlines on Matchday One in Group D.
The Islamic Republic of Iran side impressed in a 2-0 win over India's Mumbai City, with Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammad Azadi delivering the goals.
#ACL - Group D | Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 1 - 1 Navbahor (UZB)
Al Hilal, seeking a third AFC Champions League title, almost got off to a losing start with Toma Tabatadze's 52nd minute goal putting Uzbekistan's Navbahor on the verge of a huge upset.
Al Hilal, with Neymar making his debut, toiled for the better part of the match but a moment of brilliance from defender Ali Al Bulayhi secured them a point, with the equaliser coming in the 10th minute of second half stoppage time.
The Saudi Arabian side will aim to do better when they travel to face Nassaji on October 3 with Navbahor hosting Mumbai City.
Group E
Persepolis FC (IRN) 0-2 Al Nassr (KSA)
FC Istiklol (TJK) 0-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)
FC Istiklol (TJK) 0-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)
Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a winning AFC Champions League debut as Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr carved out a 2-0 win over Persepolis FC at the Azadi Stadium.
After a tight first half, Danial Esmaeilifar's own goal in the 62nd minute turned the tide in Al Nassr's favour with Mohammed Qassem netting their second 10 minutes later to inflict a home defeat on two-time AFC Champions League runners-up Persepolis.
#ACL - Group E | Persepolis FC (IRN) 0 - 2 Al Nassr (KSA)
The win took Al Nassr to the top of Group E, after the FC Istiklol and Al Duhail SC tie ended in a goalless stalemate.
Al Nassr will target another three points when they host Istiklol on October 2 while 2022 semi-finalists Al Duhail will hope for a win against Persepolis.
Group F
Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) 1-2 Bangkok United FC (THA)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) 2-1 Kitchee SC (HKG)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) 2-1 Kitchee SC (HKG)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC shrugged off their indifferent domestic form to kick off their campaign with a 2-1 win over Hong Kong's Kitchee SC at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Han Kyo-won scored the winner in the 62nd minute after Mikael had cancelled out Hong Jeong-ho's sixth minute opener and the two-time winners will hope the opening day victory will lead to a run for the title after suffering a semi-final exit last season.
#ACL - Group F | Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) 1-2 Bangkok United (THA)
Bangkok United impressed in their come-from-behind win over Lion City Sailors at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
Diego Lopes gave the Singaporean side the lead in the 25th minute but Everton and Thitipan Puangchan struck in the second half as Bangkok United marked their return to the continental tournament for the first time since 2007 with a win.
A boosted Bangkok United will aim for another three points when they host Jeonbuk on October 4 with Lion City Sailors to face Kitchee in Hong Kong.
Group G
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 1-3 Shandong Taishan FC (CHN)
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2-4 Incheon United FC (KOR)
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2-4 Incheon United FC (KOR)
Hernandez was Incheon United’s hero as he came off the bench in the second half to score twice in the final 15 minutes to earn the debutants a 4-2 win over hosts Yokohama F Marinos.
Hernandez, introduced from the bench in the 61st minute for Stefan Mugosa, left Kevin Muscat’s J1 League champions in tatters with a performance that split the teams after they had shared four goals in a frantic first half.
#ACL - Group G | Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 - 4 Incheon United FC (KOR)
The defeat means F. Marinos are already playing catch-up after China PR’s Shandong Taishan FC defeated Kaya FC-Iloilo 3-1 in the group's other tie.
Moises Lima Magalhaes, Matheus Pato and Crysan scored as Shandong defeated a stubborn Kaya FC at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The win means a confident Shandong will host F. Marinos on October 3 with Kaya FC travelling to face Incheon United.
Group H
Melbourne City FC (AUS) 0-0 Ventforet Kofu (JPN)
Buriram United (THA) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN)
Buriram United (THA) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN)
Goran Causic starred with two goals as Buriram United seized the early initiative in Group H with an impressive 4-1 win over China PR's Zhejiang FC.
Causic scored in the 22nd and 45th minutes with Lonsana Doumbouya (17th) and Pansa Hemviboon (57th) also getting on the scoresheet. Leonardo scored Zhejiang's consolation.
#ACL - Group H | Buriram United (THA) 4 - 1 Zhejiang FC (CHN)
With Australia's Melbourne City FC and Ventforet Kofu of Japan settling for a goalles stalemate, Buriram United have already opened a two-point lead at the top.
The Thai side travel to Japan to face Ventforet on October 4 while Zhejiang will hope to bounce back when they host Melbourne City.
Group I
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) 0-1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3-1 BG Pathum United (THA)
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3-1 BG Pathum United (THA)
Martin Adam scored the first hat-trick of the AFC Champions League 2023/24 season as two-time winners Ulsan Hyundai cruised 3-1 past BG Pathum United of Thailand.
The result would have been welcomed by Ulsan, given that they had headed into the match on the back of inconsistent form in the K League.
#ACL - Group I | Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) 3 - 1 BG Pathum United (THA)
Kawasaki Frontale would have been pleased with their night's work as they overcame a tough Johor Darul Ta'zim 1-0.
It was Johor Darul Ta'zim's first defeat of the season with the result easing some of the pain Frontale endured after being denied a place in last season's Round of 16 by the Malaysian side.
The top two square off on October 3 with Frontale playing host with BG Pathum United and Johor Darul Ta'zim meeting in Pathum Thani.
Group J
Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN) 2-2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
Hanoi FC (VIE) 2-4 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Hanoi FC (VIE) 2-4 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Urawa Red Diamonds' title defence got off to a shaky start with the Japanese side needing a late goal to salvage a point against Wuhan Three Towns FC.
The Chinese Super League side looked to have kicked off their debut campaign with a shock win but Jose Kante scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to force a 2-2 draw.
#ACL - Group J | Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN) 2-2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
Wuhan were left to rue the missed opportunity, with Pohang Steelers taking the early lead in the standings after a 4-2 win over Hanoi FC of Vietnam.
Pohang will host Wuhan on October 4 while Urawa will aim for a better result against Hanoi.
The 10 group winners and six best runners-up - three each from East and West Zones - will advance to the Round of 16.
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