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Just three days after the final of a remarkable AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, the continent’s premier club competition will return when the AFC Champions League 2023/24 knockout rounds get underway on February 13.
Some 40 teams entered the group stage when it kicked off back in September, with eight former champions and numerous world-renowned stars from the Saudi Pro League among the initial cast.
That number has now been whittled down to 16 as eight sides from East Asia and eight from West Asia battle it out to be crowned kings of Asia. Ahead of the first legs of the Round of 16, AFC Media shines the spotlight on the teams.
East Asia
Three former champions – all from Korea Republic – remain in the East side of the draw with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers and Ulsan Hyundai all in the mix.
The K League 1 sides have amassed five titles between them but only two can advance to the quarter-finals as two-time winners Jeonbuk will take on the 2009 champions Pohang in what is a repeat of the Round of 16 from 10 years ago when the Steelers advanced.
Champions in 2012 and 2020, Ulsan return to the knockout rounds for the seventh time, and they face perhaps the biggest story from the East side of the draw: Ventforet Kofu. The Japanese second division club progressed to the knockout rounds having topped Group H, and they will hope their fairytale run, which began when they lifted the 2022 Emperor’s Cup, can continue with yet another famous victory.
The two other Japanese clubs still in the hunt are far more familiar faces on the continental scene with Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos both looking to improve on continental showings that have failed to match their success domestically having won a combined nine J1 League titles between them.
Kawasaki, who have yet to go beyond the quarter-finals despite winning four of the past seven J1 League titles, won five and drew one in a dominant group stage display. Next up they take on Shandong Taishan, the Chinese Super League side who return to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2019 and have also never gone beyond the quarter-finals.
Yokohama, who have seen Harry Kewell replace Kevin Muscat in the dugout in recent weeks, pipped Shandong to top spot in Group G and their next assignment will be Bangkok United. The Thai side, whose only previous appearance came as Bangkok University back in 2007, won four of their first five Group F games to finish above Jeonbuk in Group F and are the only Southeast Asian side still in the competition.
West Asia
A trio of former champions, including inaugural winners Al Ain, make up the cast from a West Asia side of the draw that is dominated by Saudi Pro League clubs.
All four Saudi sides that began the group stage advanced to the knockout rounds, with four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad, an Al Nassr side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, and debutants Al Fayha making up the quartet.
While Ronaldo naturally grabbed the headlines, it was Anderson Talisca who shone brightest in front of goal for Al Nassr and the Brazilian goes into the last-16 tie with domestic rivals Al Fayha on a joint-tournament-leading six goals. Their opponents won their last two group stage games to jump from the bottom of Group A to second and advance as one of the best runners-up.
The long-term injury to Neymar doesn’t appear to have dented Al Hilal’s bid for another Asian title as they eased to top spot in Group D in their quest to add to the recent AFC Champions League titles they won in 2019 and 2021. A tricky assignment against Iranian side Sepahan awaits, with the 2007 runners-up scoring 16 goals in five group stage games, including a remarkable 9-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s AGMK, en route to their return to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2012.
But there were better fortunes for two other Uzbek clubs, with tournament debutants Navbahor, who kicked off their campaign by coming within seconds of defeating Al Hilal before ultimately leaving Riyadh with a point, advancing as one of the three best runners-up. Their reward is a match-up with a star-studded Al Ittihad, who won the 2004 and 2005 editions, with an eagerly awaited first leg in Namangan on February 15.
And finally, the second remaining Uzbek team, Nasaf, return to the knockout rounds for the second season running after topping Group B. The Qarshi club have never been beyond the Round of 16, and to do so they will have to overcome the AFC Champions League’s first-ever winners, Al Ain, who have free-scored their way to the last 16 by netting a joint-tournament-leading 17 goals so far.
