AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West): 5 things to look out for

Thu, 07 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West): 5 things to look out for

Riyadh: The AFC Champions League™ is set to return on Thursday with the 20 teams in the West section of the draw kicking off their campaigns over the next two days.

Defending champions Al Hilal SFC will be targeting a third continental title in four years, while some star names will grace the competition for the first time and three sides are making their tournament debuts. 

Ahead of the opening matches, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2022_preview__west.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/2021_afc_champions_league_fc_istiklol_4-1_al_hilal_sfc.html

Preview - Group C: Ahal FC (TKM) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Thu, 21 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group C: Ahal FC (TKM) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Jeddah: It will be a case of walking into the unknown for Mahdi Ali’s Shabab Al Ahli Dubai when they go head-to-head against debutants Ahal FC from Turkmenistan in their AFC Champions League 2022™ Group C encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Thursday.

Ahal FC are making their first appearance in the AFC Champions League™ and with little knowledge of their opponents, Ali has warned his charges to tread carefully when they meet.

Preview - Group C: Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN) v Al Gharafa (QAT)

Fri, 08 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group C: Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN) v Al Gharafa (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Gharafa head coach Andrea Stramaccioni expects his young charges to rise to the occasion against a more experienced Foolad Khouzestan FC in their opening AFC Champions League 2022™ Group C match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium on Thursday.

It has been a bittersweet experience for Stramaccioni since taking charge in 2021, leading the Qatari side to the Amir Cup final before tasting defeat against Al Duhail last month. But a return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2018 will provide a boost in morale. 

Preview - Group D: Pakhtakor (UZB) v Sepahan FC (IRN)

Fri, 08 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group D: Pakhtakor (UZB) v Sepahan FC (IRN)

Buraidah: Pakhtakor FC open their AFC Champions League™ 2022 campaign in Group D against Sepahan FC on Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah.

The Uzbek side are returning to the competition for the 18th time, a record only matched by Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC, while Sepahan are Islamic Republic of Iran’s most frequent representatives in the AFC Champions League, this being their 13th appearance.

Preview - Group D: Al Duhail SC (QAT) v Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Fri, 08 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group D: Al Duhail SC (QAT) v Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Buraidah: Qatar’s Al Duhail SC will kick off their AFC Champions League™ 2022 campaign against Group D hosts, Al Taawoun on Thursday.

The two sides’ seasons are polar opposites - Al Duhail finished the 2021-22 Qatar Stars League season as runners up, 10 points clear of third place, while Al Taawoun are involved in a Saudi Pro League relegation scrap with as many as eight clubs in the Saudi Pro League. They currently sit 13th, just one place and one point above the relegation zone. 

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - The Asian Stars

Tue, 05 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - The Asian Stars

Dubai: Since the introduction of the AFC player spot in AFC Champions League squads, clubs across the continent have looked to invest in recruiting the best Asian talent, paving the way for an era of inter-Asian transfers.

With the West matches in AFC Champions League 2022 kicking-off on Thursday, the-AFC.com looks at six key players who could make the difference for their teams in that AFC player spot.

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - Star Names

Tue, 05 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - Star Names

Riyadh: Over the years, the AFC Champions League™ has attracted some iconic names, both from across Asia and beyond, and the latest edition of the competition brings together an unprecedented number of star players.

With the start of the group stage action in the West drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com takes a look at some of the star names that will be on show in Saudi Arabia. 

Santi Cazorla of Al Sadd and Bernard of Sharjah look to make an impact on their second appearance, but each of James Rodriguez, Odion Ighalo, Ever Banega and Toby Alderweireld will be making their debuts for Al Rayyan, Al Hilal, Al Shabab and Al Duhail respectively.

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - The Host Cities

Tue, 05 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST) - The Host Cities

Riyadh: For the first time in the AFC Champions League™ history, the centralised group stage will take place across four cities in one country, with Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Buraidah hosting west games between 7th and 27th of April.

Over the past three years, and in an effort to ensure continuity of Asia’s premier club competition despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the AFC held the 2020 edition in a centralised format in Qatar, with the cities of Doha and Al Wakrah hosting the games.

Last year, hosting rights for group stage matches were divided between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and India for the West, while Uzbekistan and Thailand hosted games in the East. Ahead of kick-off of the 2022 edition, the-AFC.com profiles the four host cities of West groups.

Group by Group Preview: AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST)

Tue, 05 Apr, 2022

Group by Group Preview: AFC Champions League™ 2022 (WEST)

Riyadh: As we enter the month of April, the AFC Champions League™ 2022 is set to kick-off in a few days’ time starting with matches in the West, with the five groups taking place in Saudi Arabia.

From venues, to past encounters, to the players set to make in an impact in 2022, the-AFC.com profiles each of the five groups.