The delayed 2021 Asian Champions League group stages get under way – finally – on Wednesday, with three UAE entrants. Here are the details.
Postponed pools
Typically, the Champions League groups kick off in February, but the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic forced a rescheduling. The West Asian section (Groups A-E) begins this week, although the East Asian zone does not start until June or July. Asia’s premier club competition is divided between the East and West zones right up until the final. For the first time, the group stage features 40 clubs – an increase from the traditional 32. The UAE’s three participants comprise Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Sharjah and Al Wahda. Al Ain, the only Emirati winners of the trophy, missed out on the groups by losing a play-off on Saturday against Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan.
Centralised venues
Given travel restriction implemented because of the pandemic, the decision was taken earlier this year to hold each group in one host city. Therefore, Dubai's Shabab Al Ahli will play all their Group A matches in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi side Al Wahda have travelled to Goa for their Group G campaign, and Sharjah stages Group B. All matches span a 16-day period this month. The winners of each group and the three best runners-up from each region advance to the knockouts, entering at the last-16 stage. That phase is slated for September. Teams play their group rivals twice.
Fixtures – West region
Matchday 1 – April 14/15
Matchday 2 – April 17/18
Matchday 3 – April 20/21
Matchday 4 – April 23/24
Matchday 5 – April 26/27
Matchday 6 – April 29/30
Groups featuring UAE clubs:
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Shabab Al Ahli celebrate winning the match by penalties. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The ball is disinfected. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Nasr head coach Ramon Diaz. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Nasr's Glauber Lima is sent off. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli's Carlos Euardo battles with Al Nasr's Tozé Carvalho. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli's Mohammed Marzooq fouls Al Nasr's Sebastian Tagliabue which leads to him being sent off. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli's Abdulaziz Haikal battles with Al Nasr's Ryan Mendes.Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Nasr's Ahmed Shambih can't watch. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli's Jaloliddin Masharipov scores his penalty. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli celebrate winning the match on penalties. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Goalkeeper Majed Naser celebrates his team's win. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shabab Al Ahli head coach Mahdi Ali (L) with Federico Cartabia (M) and Jaloliddin Masharipov in victory mode. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Group A
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 1991, 2000 and 2019 winners
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE) – 2015 runners-up
FC Istiklol (Tajikistan) - debutants
FC AGMK (Uzbekistan) - debutants
Venues: King Fahd International Stadium, Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Saudi Arabia
Group B
Sharjah (UAE) – 2004 quarter-finals
FC Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) – 2003 and 2004 semi-finals
FC Tractor (Iran) – 2016 last 16
Air Force Club (Iraq) – 3 x Group Stages
Venue: Sharjah Stadium, UAE
Group E
FC Goa (India) - debutants
Persepolis (Iran) – 2018 and 2020 runners-up
Al Rayyan (Qatar) – 5 x Group Stages
Al Wahda (UAE) – 2007 semi-finals
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, India
