Preview - Group D: Al Duhail SC (QAT) v Pakhtakor (UZB)

Fri, 15 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group D: Al Duhail SC (QAT) v Pakhtakor (UZB)

Buraidah: Head coach Hernan Crespo has vowed to march on after claiming their first win, with Al Duhail SC to  face off against Pakhtakor FC on Matchday Three of Group D in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Thursday. 

With the midway point of the group stage just around the corner, all four teams in the group are tied on three points with a win and a loss each. 

This may pave the way for an exciting run in, bearing in mind that only the group winners will progress automatically to the Round of 16. 

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Preview - Group D: Al Taawoun FC (KSA) v Sepahan FC (IRN)

Fri, 15 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group D: Al Taawoun FC (KSA) v Sepahan FC (IRN)

Buraidah: John van den Brom, head coach of Group D hosts Al Taawoun and his Sepahan FC counterpart Moharram Navidkia are eager to bounce back when their sides lock horns on Matchday Three of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Thursday. 

With all four teams equal on three points from a win and a loss, victory is important for both sides if they’re to break away from the pack, with the ultimate aim of progressing to the knockout stage only guaranteed for the top side in the group, while three of the five second-placed teams in the West groups go through. 

Preview - Group B: Al Jazira FSC (UAE) v Mumbai City (IND)

Fri, 15 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group B: Al Jazira FSC (UAE) v Mumbai City (IND)

Riyadh: UAE’s Al Jazira FSC will have their work cut out for them when they meet Mumbai City of India in Group B of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday. 

Al Jazira are still searching for their first win, while Mumbai City became the first Indian club to win a game in the tournament when they defeated Iraq’s Air Force Club on Matchday Two.

The UAE Pro League side have never met Mumbai City and the Matchday Three encounter will be the first time Marcel Keizer’s Al Jazira face a team from India.

Preview - Group B: Air Force Club (IRQ) v Al Shabab (KSA)

Fri, 15 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group B: Air Force Club (IRQ) v Al Shabab (KSA)

Riyadh: Iraq Air Force Club will face their biggest test yet when they play Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in Group B of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium on Thursday. 

Air Force Club have three points from two matches and will be going up against a confident Al Shabab side who have won both their games without conceding a goal.

This will be the third meeting between the clubs in the AFC Champions League, with Al Shabab winning both previous encounters in the 2006 edition.

Preview - Group C: Al Gharafa (QAT) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Thu, 14 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group C: Al Gharafa (QAT) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Jeddah: AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group C leaders Al Gharafa SC will look to extend their lead when they face Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter between the West Asian sides on Thursday. 

The Qatari club secured their first win on Matchday Two and head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has urged his players to stay grounded and focused for the upcoming matches. 

Preview - Group C: Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN) v Ahal FC (TKM)

Thu, 21 Apr, 2022

Preview - Group C: Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN) v Ahal FC (TKM)

Jeddah: A rare moment of judgement cost Foolad Khouzestan FC their first win in the AFC Champions League 2022™ Group C campaign but veteran goalkeeper Shahab Gordan says there is still time to atone.

Foolad were on the brink of victory after an 83rd minute own goal from Shabab Al Ahli Dubai put the Iranian side in the driver’s seat on Matchday Two. .

But the enthusiasm to search for a second goal cost them three valuable points when Shabab Al Ahli Dubai took advantage of a counterattack to strike a devastating equalising goal in injury time.

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – Ones To Watch

Wed, 13 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – Ones To Watch

Kuala Lumpur: 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 is no different.

With the start of the group stage action in the East drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com takes a look at some of the star players that will be on show in the hubs in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Andres Iniesta is the headline-maker and even at 37 years old the Barcelona and Spain legend has lost none of his technical artistry and influence on the field. Elsewhere, Chanathip Songkrasin, Mathew Leckie, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Jun Amano and Dejan Damjanovic are also set to play keys roles for their respective sides.

Kitchee’s record-breaker Damjanovic targeting more goals and knockout round qualification

Thu, 07 Apr, 2022

Kitchee’s record-breaker Damjanovic targeting more goals and knockout round qualification

Hong Kong: Dejan Damjanovic has set his sight on further extending his all-time AFC Champions League™ scoring record and firing Kitchee SC into the knockout rounds for the first time as the Montenegrin prepares for his ninth season in the continental competition.

Having netted for FC Seoul, Beijing FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings over the years, Damjanovic returned for the first time since 2018 last year and scored in four successive games to break Lee Dong-gook’s 37-goal haul and stand alone as the tournament’s leading marksman.

Urawa's Nishikawa excited for AFC Champions League™ return

Wed, 13 Apr, 2022

Urawa's Nishikawa excited for AFC Champions League™ return

Saitama: Six campaigns, two finals and one title, Urawa Red Diamonds’ goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa is a veteran of the AFC Champions League™ but his excitement at returning to the continental competition remains undimmed ahead of the 2022 edition when the East Zone kicks off on Friday.

Now 35 years old, and one of the few remaining members of the championship-winning 2017 side, the custodian remains a key member of the Urawa side that ensured their return to the AFC Champions League after a two-year absence by winning last season’s Emperor’s Cup.

“The AFC Champions League is not an easy competition to qualify for, so we’re really happy to return. Becoming Asia’s number one team [in 2017] was like a dream and the chance has come again,” Nishikawa told the-AFC.com.