The Group Stage: What They Said

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

The Group Stage: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: With the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 set to kick-off with the East showdowns next week, we look back at some of the best quotes from the Group Stage's six rounds of matches.

Births, super star performances, debuts, opportunities and sleepless nights all feature as the-AFC.com reviews our What They Said series from the last four months of action.

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Group Stage: The Stats Wrap

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group Stage: The Stats Wrap

Kuala Lumpur: The group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League has now drawn to a close, with 16 teams progressing to the knockout rounds and 16 sides exiting. 

The Continental competition will not return until mid-June but there remain plenty of talking points, not least the-AFC.com’s look back at the facts and figures that have caught the eye so far.

Al Wahda sign Al Dhafra's Nicolas Milesi 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Wahda sign Al Dhafra's Nicolas Milesi 

Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda FSCC received a boost for their 2019-20 season after signing Uruguayan Nicolas Milesi from UAE Pro League rivals Al Dhafra on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old midfielder will join the Abu Dhabi-based club on a season-long loan after making 21 appearances and scoring a goal for Al Dhafra who finished 10th in the league last season.

Argentina's Mercado joins Al Rayyan

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Argentina's Mercado joins Al Rayyan

Doha: Argentina international Gabriel Mercado has signed for Qatari team Al-Rayyan, the club said Tuesday, following a three-year stint at Sevilla.

"In our first deal for the new season, the club announces it has officially signed the Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado to be one of our foreign players for next season," Al Rayyan posted on their Twitter account.

Xavi takes charge of Al Sadd

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Xavi takes charge of Al Sadd

Doha: Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd SC have named Spain and Barcelona great Xavi as head coach on a two-year contract.

FIFA World Cup winner Xavi, who played his last competitive match in a 2019 AFC Champions League tie against Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis on May 20, had announced his retirement on May 2.

Urawa Reds part ways with manager Oliveira

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Urawa Reds part ways with manager Oliveira

Tokyo: Urawa Red Diamonds have released head coach Oswaldo Oliveira from his contract, the J-League side announced on Tuesday.

The two-time AFC champions League winners said Tsuyoshi Otsuki will assume the role of head coach, having been an assistant to Brazilian Oliveira.

Group A: Zobahan FC (IRN) 0-0 Al Nassr (KSA)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group A: Zobahan FC (IRN) 0-0 Al Nassr (KSA)

Doha: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Zobahan FC secured top spot Group A of the 2019 AFC Champion League fter playing out a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr at the Grand Hamad Stadium on Wednesday.

The rescheduled Matchday Six fixture had been supposed to take place a week earlier in Karbala, but due to security concerns, it was postponed and moved to Qatar.

Both teams had already advanced to the next stage, so it was an opportunity for the two managers to experiment with their choices in what was the last fixture of their respective seasons.