With the presence of Cristiano ronaldo, Neymar and Benzema, the asian Champions League also increased in price after Saudi Pro League clubs landed a series of European superstars.
Superstar Cristiano ronaldo in the shirt of al-Nassr Club. Photo: GETTY
Five-time uEFa Champions League champion striker Cristiano ronaldo will begin his journey to add another continental title, when he and al-Nassr Club kick off the asian Champions League campaign, facing 2020 runner-up Persepolis.
The Portuguese superstar who won the European Championship with Manchester united and real Madrid, along with a series of other superstars attracted by the Saudi Pro League , also brought more attention to asia’s leading club-level tournament when it kicked off in this week.
Cristiano ronaldo’s al-Nassr is one of 40 clubs from 20 tournaments across the continent, divided into 10 groups competing from September 20. Only the winning teams will win tickets to advance to the knockout round, aiming for the asian Champions League championship worth 4 million uSD.
The above bonus amount is insignificant, compared to the expenses that Saudi arabian clubs use to recruit many outstanding talents from Europe.
Brazilian striker Neymar has just made his mark in the Saudi Pro League. Photo: GETTY
al-Hilal spent 90 million euros to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain. This is also the most successful club, winning the asian Champions League four times , and only lost to urawa red Diamonds (Japan) in the most recent final.
Coached by Portuguese strategist Jorge Jesus, the riyadh-based team brings together 12 Saudi arabian players competing in the World Cup. in addition, the force is also strengthened thanks to the contracts of aleksandar Mitrovic, ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
al-Hilal Club will kick off its campaign against uzbekistan’s Navbahor on September 20. Group D also includes Mumbai City (india) and Nassaji Mazandaran (iran). al-Hilal can field up to six foreign recruits, after the asian Football Confederation loosened regulations on foreign players.
al-ittihad Club – the reigning Saudi Pro League champion and Karim Benzema’s team will compete for the first asian championship since 2005. Benzema and his teammates will play against aGMK (uzbekistan), before facing leading with Sepahan (iran) and iraqi air Force in Group C.
Karim Benzema continues to shine in Saudi arabia. Photo: GETTY
Saudi arabian football teams are expected to dominate half of West asia, while Japanese clubs strive to maintain dominance in the east.
in the opening match of Group J taking place at 7:00 p.m. on September 20, Vietnam’s representative Hanoi FC will host Pohang Steelers (South Korea). urawa reds Club (Japan) marched to the stadium of Chinese champion Wuhan Three Towns.
it is expected that Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) will have a difficult opening match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia) in Group i, the group also includes two Korean champions – ulsan Hyundai and BG Pathum. united comes from Thailand.
The asian Champions League group stage will last from September 20 to December 13, 2023. The knockout round kicks off on February 12, 2024, and the final will be played in a home and away format on May 11 and 18, 2024.