2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage
The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage will be played from 16 September 2024 to 19 February 2025.[1]
Draw
[edit]The draw for the league stage took place on 16 August at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2]
Seeding
[edit]For each region, the title holder or the highest seeded team from each member association involved were allocated into Pot 1, while the remaining teams were allocated into Pot 2.[3]
| Region | Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
|---|---|---|
| West Region | ||
| East Region |
|
|
Grid Result
[edit]Each team was drawn a position in the draw grid for their region: column A–C for West and D–F for East. Teams from Pot 1 were drawn into positions 1 or 2 while teams from Pot 2 were drawn into positions 3 or 4.
Each position had pre-determined matchups as part of a pairings grid. Teams in each column play matches with the other columns in each region.[3]
| Column | A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | West Region | East Region | |||||
| 1 |  Pakhtakor
|
 Al-Sadd
|
 Persepolis
|
 Ulsan HD
|
 Shanghai Port
|
 Johor Darul Ta'zim
| |
| 2 |  Al-Hilal
|
 Al-Shorta
|
 Al Ain
|
 Central Coast Mariners
|
 Buriram United
|
 Vissel Kobe
| |
| 3 | Al-Nassr
|
Al-Rayyan
|
Esteghlal
|
Pohang Steelers
|
Shandong Taishan
|
Yokohama F. Marinos
| |
| 4 | Al-Ahli
|
Al-Gharafa
|
Al Wasl
|
Gwangju
|
Shanghai Shenhua
|
Kawasaki Frontale
| |
Schedule
[edit]The schedule of the league stage is as follows.[4]
| Round | Dates (West region) | Dates (East region) |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 16–17 September 2024 | 17–18 September 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 30 September–1 October 2024 | 1–2 October 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 21–22 October 2024 | 22–23 October 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 4–5 November 2024 | 5–6 November 2024 |
| Matchday 5 | 25–26 November 2024 | 26–27 November 2024 |
| Matchday 6 | 2–3 December 2024 | 3–4 December 2024 |
| Matchday 7 | 3–4 February 2025 | 11–12 February 2025 |
| Matchday 8 | 17–18 February 2025 | 18–19 February 2025 |
League stage
[edit]The detailed schedule was announced on 16 August 2024 after the draw ceremony.[5][6][2]
West Region
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal
|
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 7 | +17 | 22 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Al-Ahli
|
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 8 | +15 | 22 | |
| 3 | Al-Nassr
|
8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 17 | |
| 4 | Al-Sadd
|
8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 12 | |
| 5 | Al Wasl
|
8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 11 | |
| 6 | Esteghlal
|
8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 9 | |
| 7 | Al-Rayyan
|
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 8 | |
| 8 | Pakhtakor
|
8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 7 | |
| 9 | Persepolis
|
8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 7 | |
| 10 | Al-Gharafa
|
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 7 | |
| 11 | Al-Shorta
|
8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 17 | −10 | 6 | |
| 12 | Al Ain
|
8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 2 |
Source: Asian Football Confederation
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Results summary
[edit]Matches
[edit]Matchday 1
[edit]| Al Ain | 1–1 | Al-Sadd |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Shorta | 1–1 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Ahli | 1–0 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 2
[edit]| Persepolis | 1–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Gharafa | 4–2 | Al Ain |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Al-Hilal | 5–0 | Al-Shorta |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 3
[edit]| Al-Sadd | 1–0 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al Ain | 4–5 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Rayyan | 1–2 | Al-Ahli |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Esteghlal | 0–1 | Al Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 4][7]
Attendance: 7,600
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
| Al-Gharafa | 1–2 | Al Wasl |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 4
[edit]| Persepolis | 1–1 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 4]
Attendance: 3,941
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Matchday 5
[edit]| Al-Gharafa | 1–3 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Rayyan | 1–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Sadd | 1–1 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 6
[edit]| Persepolis | 2–1 | Al-Shorta |
|---|---|---|
|
Report | Ali  19' |
| Pakhtakor | 1–1 | Al Ain |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Hilal | 3–0 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 7
[edit]| Al-Sadd | 1–3 | Al-Ahli |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 9,335
Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
| Al-Gharafa | 1–0 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Hilal | 4–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 8
[edit]| Persepolis | 0–0 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Al-Ahli | 4–2 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 12,860
Referee: Omar Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Al Wasl | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
East Region
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yokohama F. Marinos
|
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 18 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Kawasaki Frontale
|
7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 15 | |
| 3 | Johor Darul Ta'zim
|
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 14 | |
| 4 | Gwangju
|
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 14 | |
| 5 | Vissel Kobe
|
7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 13 | |
| 6 | Buriram United
|
8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 12 | |
| 7 | Shanghai Shenhua
|
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | |
| 8 | Shanghai Port
|
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 8 | |
| 9 | Pohang Steelers
|
7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 6 | |
| 10 | Ulsan HD
|
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 3 | |
| 11 | Central Coast Mariners
|
7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 1 | |
| 12 | Shandong Taishan
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrawn[a] |
Source: Asian Football Confederation
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Notes:
Results summary
[edit]Matches
[edit]Matchday 1
[edit]| Gwangju | 7–3 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (3–1) | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 4–1 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Ulsan HD | 0–1 | Kawasaki Frontale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Attendance: 9,673
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Shanghai Port | 2–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 2
[edit]| Central Coast Mariners | 1–2 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Pohang Steelers | 3–0 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 3–0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 31,386
Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
| Vissel Kobe | Voided (2–1) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 4–0 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 3
[edit]| Gwangju | 3–1 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (2–2) | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 24,796
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Buriram United | 1–0 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Ulsan HD | 0–2 | Vissel Kobe |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2–0 | Kawasaki Frontale |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 4
[edit]| Central Coast Mariners | 2–2 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Kawasaki Frontale | 3–1 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Vissel Kobe | 2–0 | Gwangju |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Pohang Steelers | Voided (4–2) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 5
[edit]| Vissel Kobe | 3–2 | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Attendance: 6,009
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Ulsan HD | 1–3 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (1–0) | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Gwangju | 1–0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 6
[edit]| Pohang Steelers | 3–1 | Vissel Kobe |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shanghai Port | 1–1 | Gwangju |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Kawasaki Frontale | Voided (4–0) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 1–2 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 7
[edit]| Central Coast Mariners | 1–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (3–1) | Gwangju |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 32,867
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoaish (Saudi Arabia)
| Buriram United | 2–1 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Matchday 8
[edit]| Gwangju | 2–2 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 5–2 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d Al-Shorta played their home matches at Al-Madina International Stadium and Al-Zawraa Stadium, Baghdad, and Karbala International Stadium, Karbala, instead of their regular home stadium Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad.
- ^ a b c d Pakhtakor played their home matches at JAR Stadium, Tashkent, instead of their regular home stadium Pakhtakor Central Stadium, Tashkent.
- ^ a b c Al-Gharafa played their home matches at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, instead of their regular home stadium Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan.
- ^ a b c d Iranian clubs are required to play their home matches at neutral venues due to security concerns relating to the October 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran.
- ^ Gwangju played their home matches at Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, instead of their regular home stadium Gwangju World Cup Stadium or Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju.
- ^ Ulsan HD will play their home matches at Ulsan Stadium, Ulsan, instead of their regular home stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan.
- ^ The match was cancelled when Shandong Taishan did not report for the match.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2024 - Jun 2025)" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ a b "#ACLElite League Stage hopefuls learn opponents". Asian Football Confederation. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Live: AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 League Stage Draw" (video). Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions" (PDF). AFC. 15 January 2025.
- ^ "2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite League Stage Draw Results & Match Schedule" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite League Stage Pairings" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "AFC confirms Dubai as venue for Al Nassr upcoming match against Esteghlal". Saudi Gazette. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Latest update on AFC Champions League Elite™". Asian Football Confederation. 19 February 2024.