Preview: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) v Lee Man (HKG)

Tue, 22 Aug, 2023

Preview: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) v Lee Man (HKG)

Saitama: Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds will look to secure their place in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 group stage when they welcome Hong Kong’s Lee Man to Saitama Stadium on Tuesday. 

After beating Al Hilal SFC in the 2022 final in May, Urawa were placed in the playoff round for the upcoming edition while Lee Man, who finished as last season's Hong Kong Premier League runners-up, eased to a 5-1 win over Bali United in the preliminary round to book their ticket to Saitama.

Stage set for AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group Stage Draw

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Stage set for AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group Stage Draw

Kuala Lumpur: The battle lines for the best clubs in Asia will be determined when the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group Stage draw takes place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24, 2023 at 4pm. 

Marking the first instance of the AFC Club Competitions calendar shifting from its current Spring-Autumn season to an Autumn-Spring calendar, the 21st edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s flagship club competition will take place from September 2023 to May 2024. 

Scholz determined to take Urawa past Lee Man

Sun, 20 Aug, 2023

Scholz determined to take Urawa past Lee Man

Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds’ Danish defender Alex Scholz has his eyes set on victory over Lee Man on Tuesday as the defending champions prepare to take on the Hong Kong Premier League runners-up in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 playoff at Saitama Stadium.

Lee Man handed Indonesia’s Bali United a 5-1 defeat last week to advance to the final preliminary round, but Scholz is determined that the three-time winners will be the side that progresses into Thursday’s draw for the Group Stage.

Gomis sold on 'Project Kawasaki'

Mon, 21 Aug, 2023

Gomis sold on 'Project Kawasaki'

Kawasaki: Two-time AFC Champions League™ winner Bafetimbi Gomis has said the desire to help Kawasaki Frontale return to the upper reaches of Japanese football was his principal motivation for joining the J1 League club.

The former Al Hilal forward, who led Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal SFC to the continental title in 2019 and 2021, has signed an initial six-month contract with Kawasaki with the option for an additional year and he is focused on lifting the club out of their current slump.

The Playoffs and beyond

Sat, 19 Aug, 2023

The Playoffs and beyond

Kuala Lumpur: The final eight places up for grabs in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 will be confirmed on Tuesday after the conclusion of eight playoff matches across the continent.

For some sides, qualification to the group stage would rank as a historic achievement, while others would immediately set their sights on going deep into the tournament, and perhaps even ending the campaign as kings of Asia.
 
It’s a long journey from the playoffs to the final – the-AFC.com has looked back through the archives to find out which teams have delivered standout performances after clearing the final qualification hurdle.

Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: The final cast for the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 is set to be determined on Tuesday as 16 teams from across the continent get set to take part in the playoff round with eight spots in the continental competition up for grabs. 

The tournament is likely to see its most star-studded cast to date with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema – among many others – having made the move to the Saudi Pro League in recent months. 
 
With defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds and Ronaldo's Al Nassr among the sides competing in the final round of qualifiers, the-AFC.com has selected eight players to look out for.

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Riyadh: One of Saudi Arabia’s most successful clubs, Al Nassr are dreaming of a journey to rewrite their continental history starting on Tuesday when they take on Shabab Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League 2023-24™ playoff round.

Despite a rich tradition of success, talents and popularity as well as a golden period in the 1990s, Al Nassr took until 2011 to make their debut in the AFC Champions League.
 
The club had previously reached the final of the 1995 Asian Club Championship and won the now defunct Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and the Asian Super Cup in 1998, becoming Asia’s first representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000.

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Kuala Lumpur: The Saudi Pro League has attracted worldwide attention in recent months with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, among many others, signing for clubs in the Gulf nation as they get set to make their AFC Champions League™ debuts in the coming weeks. 

It’s not so long ago that it was the Chinese Super League drawing similar headlines as stars flocked to the East of the continent, with Guangzhou FC, Beijing FC and Jiangsu FC among those featuring big-name players. 
 
But it was perhaps Shanghai Port who had the most recognisable line-up, with Hulk and Oscar the poster boys of a side that thrilled for several years only to fall just short.
 
As the CSL side prepare to return to the AFC Champions League playoff round, where they face Thailand’s BG Pathum United on Tuesday, the-AFC.com recalls their star-studded era.