By Samindra Kunti
April 14 – Tonight a new iteration of the AFC Champions League kicks off with 20 teams in the Western Zone getting their campaigns under way, in an expanded championship with all eyes on Qatari champions Al Sadd, led by coach Xavi Hernandez, and Indian debutants FC Goa.
Last season, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) navigated the coronavirus pandemic by staging all remaining fixtures in the group stages and the knock-out phase in Doha. This time six different venues will host the centralised west Groups A to E over the next three weeks, with the competition’s format having been increased from 32 to 40 teams across ten groups.
The Saudi capital Riyadh will stage the lion’s share of matches with three venues, Jeddah is the other Saudi city to welcome matches, hosting matches in Group B with Al Ahli Saudi FC, Iraq’s Al Shorta, Qatar’s Al Duhail and IR Iran’s Esteghlal. India’s Goa gets Group E’s matches, with hosts FC Goa playing 2020 runners-up Persepolis from Iran, Qatar’s Al Rayyan and the UAE’s Al Wahda. Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, will unite Group B with Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor, Iraq’s Air Force, Iran’s Tractor FC and the host club.
The expansion widens the playing field, no longer restricting the competition to clubs from the continental powerhouses such as South Korea, Japan. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. On the flip side, progressing from the group stage will be more difficult than ever with only the group winners and the six best runners-up making the round of sixteen.
In Group D, all eyes will be on Al Sadd. The Qatari champions dominated their domestic league last season and with coach Xavi Hernandez often linked to the Barcelona role this campaign will be another test of his mettle. “The toughest tournament awaits us,” said Xavi. “We are in an excellent period and fully ready to compete.”
In their opening game, Al Sadd will play Iran’s Foolad. They will meet Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and Jordan’s Al-Wehdat in their other first round matches. The Jordanians are, alongside Uzbekistan’s AGMK and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol, debutants in the competition, but most eyes will be on first timers FC Goa from India.
Indian clubs had never made it past the Champions League’s preliminaries, but the Indian Super League, the country’s top flight, now offers a direct route to the continent’s flagship tournament through an automatic spot. Goa face daunting opposition, playing clubs from Qatar, the UAE and Iran in Group E and won’t be expected to progress from their group. Instead, their mere participation represents a landmark moment for Indian football and a step on a steep learning curve if the country ever wants to be competitive at Asian elite level.
The first round in the West Zone will be played over the next 15 days with each club playing six games. The AFC has not yet decided the venues for the East Zone which is scheduled to kick off in June.
A two-legged final is scheduled for November. Last year, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai defeated Persepolis 2-1 over 90 minutes in Doha to win the Asian crown.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714047462labto1714047462ofdlr1714047462owedi1714047462sni@o1714047462fni1714047462
