Doha: The newly structured group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite will feature Qatari clubs Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, and Al Gharafa competing against eight teams from the Western region.
In this season, all three Qatari teams will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Neymar Jr.’s Al Hilal, as determined by the draw conducted by the AFC on August 16 for the 2024/25 season.
Al Sadd, the champions of the Qatari league, and the runners-up Al Rayyan have qualified directly for this revamped group stage, while Al Gharafa secured their spot by overcoming UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli in the playoff round.
Al Rayyan will host Al Hilal first in Qatar, with the match scheduled for September 17 at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, where they will face the four-time Asian champions.
An exciting weekend in November will feature both Al Hilal and Al Nassr competing in Qatar. Al Gharafa will take on Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on November 25, followed by a match between familiar rivals Al Hilal and Al Sadd the next day at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
In November 2023, Al Nassr visited Doha and achieved a 3-2 victory against Al Duhail, thanks to a hat trick from Talisca at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The lead-up to that match was marked by chaos as fans lined up for tickets to see Cristiano Ronaldo, who ultimately did not travel to Qatar. Al Hilal’s most recent visit to Qatar resulted in a resounding 7-0 victory over Al Duhail at the Al Thumama Stadium during the 2022 semi-finals of the tournament, then known as the AFC Champions League.
Al Sadd and Al Rayyan have been assigned identical matchups in the draw and will compete away in Saudi Arabia against Al Nassr.
Al Rayyan is scheduled to confront Al Nassr on September 30, while Al Sadd will make their way to King Saud University Stadium for their match on December 2.
The draw presents a considerable challenge for all three clubs, as Al Gharafa will take on the defending champions Al Ain from the UAE, another Emirati team, Al Wasl, and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor at home, in addition to facing Al Nassr.
Al Sadd and Al Rayyan will have home advantages against Iran’s Persepolis and Esteghlal, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and Al Hilal.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Al Wakrah, competing at the second tier Champions League Two, will play both at home and away against Iran’s Tractor, Tajikistan’s Ravshan Kulob and Indian side Mohun Bagan Super Giants.
Here’s the full continental schedule for all four Qatari clubs:
Al Gharafa:
Al Sadd
Al Rayyan
Tables credit: transfermarkt.com
