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Neymar this month signed for last season’s Asian Champions League finalists Al Hilal. Photo: Reuters
SportFootball

Asian Champions League draw reveals where Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema will play with their Saudi clubs

  • Star names who have moved to mega-spending Saudi Pro League sides learn their fate in the draw for the group stage
  • Neymar’s new club Al Hilal will seek a record-extending fifth Champions League crown
AFC Champions League
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
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Saudi Pro League superstar Neymar will get his first taste of Asian Champions League football after last season’s runners-up Al Hilal were drawn against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran, Mumbai City of India and Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in the group stage on Thursday.

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Ittihad’s Karim Benzema will also play in the group stage of Asia’s premier club football competition, where they will seek to power their clubs to victory against sides from across Asia.

With billions of dollars in oil wealth, Saudi Arabia has been on a buying spree of sports assets as part of plans to diversify its economy and attract tourism and investment.

Al Hilal lead the AFC Champions League for most title wins, with four to their name.

Cristiano Ronaldo played in Al Nassr’s preliminary round playoff this week. Photo: AFP

With the flamboyant Brazilian playmaker Neymar in their ranks for the 2023-24 season, Al Hilal hope to win the title for a fifth time.

Al Nassr, semi-finalists in the 2020 and 2021 editions, will play Iran’s Persepolis, Al Duhail of Qatar and Tajikistan’s Istiklol.

Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad will have their sights set on a first Champions League crown since winning back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, after securing the services of French stars Benzema and N’Golo Kante.

They will take on Iran’s Sepahan, Air Force Club of Iraq and Uzbekistan’s AGMK.

Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, in the competition’s eastern division, will face China’s Wuhan Three Towns, Pohang Steelers of South Korea and Vietnam’s Hanoi.

After the draw at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the AFC’s secretary general Windsor John said VAR would feature this season.

“No easy matches,” he said of the draw, adding that “a video assistant referee system will be introduced from the group stage”.

The group stage will run from September 18 to December 13, with the knockout stage to kick off on February 12.

The two-leg final will be played on May 11 and 18.

Asian Champions League 2023-24 group stage draw

Group A: Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Fayha (KSA), Ahal (TKM), Al Ain (UAE)

Group B: Al Sadd (QAT), Nasaf (UZB), Al Faisaly (JOR), Sharjah (UAE)

Group C: Al Ittihad (KSA), Sepahan (IRN), Air Force Club (IRQ), AGMK (UZB)

Group D: Al Hilal (KSA), Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN), Mumbai City (IND), Navbahor (UZB)

Group E: Persepolis (IRN), Al Duhail (QAT), Istiklol (TJK), Al Nassr (KSA)

Group F: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR), Bangkok United (THA), Lion City Sailors (SGP), Kitchee (HKG)

Group G: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Shandong Taishan (CHN), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Incheon United (KOR)

Group H: Buriram United (THA), Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Melbourne City (AUS), Zhejiang (CHN)

Group I: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), BG Pathum United (THA)

Group J: Wuhan Three Towns (CHN), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Hanoi (VIE), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

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