Founded by and named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the club sits in the town of Al Majma’ah north of the capital Riyadh and play their home matches at The Majma’ah Sports City Stadium, a 7,000 seater ground. 

Since winning promotion to the Saudi Pro League in 2010-11, Al Faisaly have not looked back, continuing on an upward trajectory year after year, reaching a high of fifth place in 2019-20. Their qualification to the group stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League came on the back of their biggest trophy win yet: The 2020-21 King’s Cup. 

The journey to the title saw them grind out one goal difference wins through each round, with the pick of their cup run coming in the semi-finals against Riyadh powerhouse Al Nassr, who they beat with an 84th minute penalty having played with a man down following Igor Rossi’s ninth minute sending off. 

Current manager Denis Ramos joined in October 2021 following the departure of Italian Paulo Tramezzani, but the club will be wary their top flight status might be lost by the time they get their continental campaign underway as they currently find themselves in the relegation zone with three wins all season and none in their last five.

Al Faisaly boast three key players who will be vital in their first ever AFC Champions League campaign, with Cape Verde forward Julio Tavares notching up six goals so far this season having scored 15 the previous term, while 30-year-old keeper Ahmed Al Kassar has kept three clean sheets and picked up the league’s ‘Goalkeeper of the Month’ accolade back in November. 

The captain and one of the longest serving members of the squad, Igor Rossi, has been ever-present since the 2016-17 season, and they will count on his experience and influence.

Founded in 2014 ahead of the inaugural Indian Super League season, the club is situated in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, and has participated in every season of the ISL, with the 2020-21 season finally bringing their first ever title after defeating ATK Mohun Bagan in the 2021 ISL Final. 

Mumbai City will be the second Indian side to qualify to the AFC Champions League group stage, after FC Goa took the honour in the last edition and managed three draws and three losses, meaning the feat of a first Indian club to win an AFC Champions League match is there for the taking.

Joining last October, former Melbourne City assistant manager Desmond Buckingham is charged with keeping Mumbai City at the top after predecessor Sergio Lobera added the first piece of silverware to the club’s cabinet. They are currently not far off top, sitting in fourth place just three points away from pacesetters Kerala Blasters with a little over half of the league season over.

At 37 years of age, forward Igor Angulo will be relied upon as a goal threat, with the Spaniard having contributed 10 goals in 11 matches so far this term to keep his side in with a chance to retain their league title, while Ahmed Jahouh sits atop the ISL list of most assists provided so far with six.

The Ashgabat based side was founded in 1989 in the Turkmen city of Anau, and they play their home games at the Ashgabat Stadium which holds around 20,000 fans at full capacity. They have never won a league title before, but have three Turkmenistan Cup titles under their belt, and a Turkmenistan Super cup title.

By virtue of coming in second place in the Yokary Liga and obtaining the AFC Champions League license ahead of champions FC Altyn Asyr, Ahal FK will be the first ever Turkmen representative in the group stage of the competition. 

Ahal have been league runners-up behind Altyn Asyr for five years in a row since 2017. They are, however, no strangers to Asian club competitions, having participated four times in the AFC Cup, the last of which saw them reach the Central Asian Zonal Final in 2021, when they were defeated by eventual finalists FC Nasaf 3-2. 

Elman Tagayew stood out during that campaign, racking up five goals en route to the zonal final which saw him end the campaign in second place behind Husain Norchayev.

First founded as Melbourne Heart in 2009 before a rebrand five years later that resulted in their current identity as Melbourne City Football Club, last season saw them hit the peak of Australian club football winning the A-League Premiers and Grand Final. 

Melbourne City play at the iconic Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, a multi-sport venue that hosts local rivals Melbourne Victory as well as Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs. Completed in 2010, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium has a capacity of 30,500 fans.

Coach Patrick Kisnorbo has seen and done it all at Melbourne City. Finishing his playing career at the club, the former centre-back was involved in coaching both the youth and women’s team before taking over the men’s senior side in 2020 and leading them to glory in his maiden season at the helm, defeating defending champions Sydney FC in the Grand Final having earlier lifted the Premiers Plate after topping the regular season standings.

In Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Maclaren, Melbourne City boast the bulk of the Socceroos’ domestic-based forwards although in terms it is the latter, striker Maclaren, who is undoubtedly the star man for his club.

Three times A-League Golden Boot winner, with two of those coming back-to-back in the last two campaigns, Maclaren’s prodigious appetite for goals will be a threat for any opponent at AFC Champions League 2022.

Photos: Al Faisaly, FC Ahal