Saudi Arabia meets expectations as powerhouses, and a lesser light, march on in ACL
Saudi Arabia's three giants are marching on in the AFC Champions League. And with a fourth team joining them, expectations might even have been exceeded.
Who's on course and who's out of the race for the ACL last 16?
As the AFC Champions League group stage reaches its business end, we take a closer look at which teams could advance and which are already out.
Holders Urawa keep Asian CL hopes alive
Title holders Urawa Red Diamonds kept their hopes of a place in the Asian Champions League knockout stages alive on Wednesday as Jose Kante's 90th-minute strike earned Maciej Skorza's side a 2-1 win over China's Wuhan Three Towns.
Al Hilal advance in ACL despite 2 missed pens
Four-times winners Al Hilal confirmed their place in the last 16 of this year's Asian Champions League on Tuesday after the Saudi Pro League side beat Uzbekistan's Navbahor 2-0 despite a pair of missed penalties from Salem Al-Dawsari.
After last season's historic feat, JDT now have to bounce back from early ACL exit
After making history in the AFC Champions League last season, JDT will now have to overcome the setback of an early group-stage elimination this year.
Honest Ronaldo gets ref to overturn own penalty
Cristiano Ronaldo's honesty helped to nullify a penalty he was awarded as his 10-man Al-Nassr side held on to draw with Persepolis of Iran 0-0 in the Asian Champions League on Monday.
Ronaldo, Al Nassr book ACL round-of-16 place
Al-Nassr booked their place in the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League on Monday as the Saudi Pro League side claimed a 0-0 draw with Iran's Persepolis despite playing most of the game in Riyadh with 10 men.
Sailors star Lestienne not to be denied SPL Player of the Year -- not for a second year running
Not that it really bothered him but, after missing out on last season's SPL Player of the Year award, Maxime Lestienne was not going to be denied in 2023.
With not many ACL nights left to savour, Sailors produce one to remember as Zivkovic comes good
Lion City Sailors claimed their biggest win the AFC Champions League yet on Wednesday as they downed two-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Melbourne City fall 1-0 to Thailand's Buriram in ACL
Melbourne City have suffered the first defeat of their Asian Champions League campaign and missed the chance to put one foot in the round of 16, falling to a 1-0 home defeat against Thai side Buriram United.
JDT draw on indomitable spirit again for another thrilling win over Ulsan to stay in ACL hunt
As they claimed another thrilling win over Ulsan Hyundai, JDT's indomitable spirit means they remain very much alive in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League.
Al Hilal beat 10-man Mumbai City 2-0
Michael and Mitrovic scored after Mehtab Singh got sent off as Al Hilal eased past Mumbai City
Who's on course and who's in trouble at halfway mark of the ACL group stage?
With the 2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage at its halfway mark, who's on course for the last 16? And who's in danger of missing out?
How have Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema and SPL's big stars fared on the Asian stage?
The good, the bad and the ugly. That's how some of football's biggest stars have fared as they grace the AFC Champions League for the first time.
Stunning Ronaldo double leads Al Nassr to win
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular double as Al-Nassr stayed perfect in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday, the Saudi Pro League outfit getting a 4-3 win in Riyadh over Al Duhail from Qatar.
After last year's ACL high, JDT have real battle on their hands to back it up
JDT are gunning to reach the AFC Champions League round of 16 for the second season running. As things stand, they have plenty of work on their hands.
Al Hilal keep up ACL charge but are they equipped to go far without Neymar?
Al Hilal breezed past Mumbai City without Neymar -- but how far can they go in the AFC Champions League in the absence of their Brazilian star?
Stars announce arrival, ASEAN hopefuls back on track: What we learned from match day 2 of the ACL
Some big names announced their arrival in the AFC Champions League while there was joy for a number of ASEAN hopefuls on match day 2.
Neymar nets 1st Al Hilal goal in Champs Lge win
Neymar scored his first goal since his high profile move to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as Al-Hilal defeated Iran's Nassaji Mazandaran 3-0 in Tehran's Azadi Stadium.
Ronaldo leads Al Nassr Champions League rally
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an important breakthrough goal for Al Nassr to spark his team's 3-1 Asian Champions League rally over Istiklol on Monday at Al Awal Park.
Asian CL match off as Saudi club won't take field
Al-Ittihad's Asian Champions League match with Iran's Sepahan was called off on Monday after the Saudi team refused to leave their dressing-room due to a statue of an assassinated Iranian general being placed at the entrance to the pitch.
What we learned as 2023-24 AFC Champions League got underway
From mixed results for Saudi Arabia's giants to slow starts by Southeast Asia's hopefuls, here's what we learned from the opening action of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League.
Al Nassr, Ronaldo win Asian CL group opener
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr made their numerical advantage count against 10-man Persepolis as the Saudi Pro League side kicked off their Asian Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win.
Unstoppable for the Sailors, Lestienne will show no fear in ACL return
Maxime Lestienne has plenty of confidence. There's good reason for that. And he will now take that into Lion City Sailors' sophomore AFC Champions League campaign.
Neymar makes first start for Al Hilal in ACL draw
Neymar made his first start for Al Hilal in a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan's Navbahor in the Asian Champions League in Riyadh .
AFC CL Standings
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Ain | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +8 | 15 |
| Al Fayha | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | +2 | 9 |
| Pakhtakor Tashkent | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 7 |
| Ahal | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -7 | 4 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Nasaf Quarshi | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +4 | 11 |
| Al Sadd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 8 |
| Sharjah | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 8 |
| Al-Faisaly | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -7 | 6 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Al Ittihad | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +7 | 15 |
| Sepahan | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | +8 | 10 |
| Air Force Club | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 10 |
| AGMK | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -17 | 0 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Al Hilal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | +14 | 16 |
| Navbahor | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 13 |
| Nassaji Mazandaran | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 6 |
| Mumbai City FC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -16 | 0 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Al Nassr | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | +6 | 14 |
| Persepolis | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Al Duhail | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Istiklol | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -6 | 3 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Bangkok United | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 13 |
| Jeonbuk Motors | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 9 |
| Lion City Sailors | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 6 |
| Kitchee | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 1 |
| Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Shandong Taishan | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | +10 | 12 |
| Incheon United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +3 | 9 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 9 |
| Kaya | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -15 | 0 |
| Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Ventforet Kofu | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +2 | 8 |
| Melbourne City FC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +2 | 8 |
| Buriram United | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Zhejiang Professional FC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 6 |
| Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +11 | 15 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +4 | 9 |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 6 |
| BG Pathum United | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -10 | 0 |
| Group J | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Pohang Steelers | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | +9 | 16 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| Hanoi | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -9 | 6 |
| Wuhan Three Towns | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 5 |