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2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite

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2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
6–13 August 2024
Competition proper:
16 September 2024 – 4 May 2025
TeamsCompetition proper: 24 (from 12 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored153 (3.19 per match)
Top scorer(s)Albania Jasir Asani (6 goals)
← 2023–24 (AFC CL)
All statistics correct as of 6 November 2024.

The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) is the 43rd edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first since it was rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite. The revamped format, along with the rebranding, sees 24 teams playing eight games against different opponents in the brand new league phase.[1]

The final stage will be played in Saudi Arabia from 25 April to 4 May 2025.[2] The tournament winner will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, the winner will enter the league stage of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through domestic performance.[3]

Al-Ain are the defending champions, as the AFC Champions League records and statistics are carried forward to the ACL Elite.[4]

Association team allocation

[edit]

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.[5]

Participation for 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
Participating
Not participating

Teams

[edit]

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count since the 2002–03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.

Notes
  1. ^
    Iran (IRN): Sepahan were also third place in the Pro League, but qualified for this competition based on their Hazfi Cup performance. Otherwise, the third place in the Pro League would have qualified for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two.
  2. ^
    Qatar (QAT): Al-Sadd had already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023–24 Qatar Stars League champions has also won the 2024 Emir of Qatar Cup. Thus, second-placed Al-Rayyan have also qualified for the Champions League Elite league stage, while the third-placed Al-Gharafa qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off.
  3. ^
    South Korea (KOR): Pohang Steelers had already qualified as the 2023 K League 1 runners-up when they won the 2023 Korean FA Cup, so third-placed Gwangju FC qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off. Since both East region finalists in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup (Yokohama F. Marinos and Central Coast Mariners) had already qualified through their domestic performance, Gwangju were later confirmed for the league stage[6] based on their association's higher ranking, leaving only two teams left in the East region qualifying play-off for the remaining league stage slot.
  4. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al Wasl had already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023–24 UAE Pro League champions have also won the 2023–24 UAE President's Cup. Thus, second-placed Shabab Al-Ahli have qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off.

Schedule

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The schedule of the competition is as follows.[7] All matches will be played on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, apart from the quarter-finals and the final. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches will be played at a centralized venue in Saudi Arabia.

Stage Round Draw date West region East region
Preliminary stage Preliminary round 1 No draw[a] 6 August 2024
Preliminary round 2 13 August 2024
League stage Matchday 1 16 August 2024 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
Round of 16[b] No draw[a] 3–4 and 10–11 March 2025 4–5 and 11–12 March 2025
Final stage[c] Quarter-finals 14 March 2025 25–26 April 2025
Semi-finals 29–30 April 2025
Final 4 May 2025

Qualifying play-offs

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying play-offs

The two winners of the play-off round (one from West Region and one from East Region) advanced to the league stage to join the 22 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs entered the group stage of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two.[8]

Preliminary round

[edit]

A total of 2 teams played in the preliminary round.

West Region
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Sepahan Iran1–4 (a.e.t.)United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli

Play-off round

[edit]

A total of 4 teams played in the play-off round: 3 teams which entered in this round, and 1 winners of the preliminary round.

West Region
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Al-Gharafa SC Qatar1–0United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli
East Region
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Shandong Taishan China1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Thailand Bangkok United

League stage

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage


class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage teams
Orange: East Region; Blue: West Region

West Region

[edit]
Table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli (Q) 5 5 0 0 12 3 +9 15 Advance to round of 16
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr (Q) 5 4 1 0 12 4 +8 13
3 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 4 4 0 0 16 5 +11 12
4 Qatar Al-Sadd 4 2 2 0 5 2 +3 8
5 United Arab Emirates Al Wasl 4 2 1 1 4 4 0 7
6 Qatar Al-Rayyan 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4
7 Iran Esteghlal 5 1 1 3 3 6 −3 4
8 Qatar Al-Gharafa 5 1 1 3 7 11 −4 4
9 Iran Persepolis 5 0 3 2 3 5 −2 3
10 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 5 0 3 2 1 3 −2 3
11 Iraq Al-Shorta 4 0 2 2 2 11 −9 2
12 United Arab Emirates Al Ain 5 0 1 4 9 17 −8 1
Updated to match(es) played on 25 November 2024. 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
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Results
Matchday 1
Home teamScoreAway team
Al Ain United Arab Emirates1–1Qatar Al-Sadd
Al-Shorta Iraq1–1Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Esteghlal Iran3–0Qatar Al-Gharafa
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia1–0Iran Persepolis
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan0–1United Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Al-Rayyan Qatar1–3Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Matchday 2
Home teamScoreAway team
Al-Sadd Qatar2–0Iran Esteghlal
Persepolis Iran1–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates0–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia2–1Qatar Al-Rayyan
Al-Gharafa Qatar4–2United Arab Emirates Al Ain
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia5–0Iraq Al-Shorta
Matchday 3
Home teamScoreAway team
Al-Shorta Iraq0–0Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Al-Sadd Qatar1–0Iran Persepolis
Al Ain United Arab Emirates4–5Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Al-Rayyan Qatar1–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Esteghlal Iran0–1Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Al-Gharafa Qatar1–2United Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Matchday 4
Home teamScoreAway team
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates1–1Qatar Al-Sadd
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia5–1Iraq Al-Shorta
Persepolis Iran1–1Qatar Al-Gharafa
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia3–0Iran Esteghlal
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan0–1Qatar Al-Rayyan
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia5–1United Arab Emirates Al Ain
Matchday 5
Home teamScoreAway team
Al Ain United Arab Emirates1–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Esteghlal Iran0–0Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Al-Gharafa Qatar1–3Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Al-Rayyan Qatar1–1Iran Persepolis
Al-Shorta Iraq26 NovUnited Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Al-Sadd Qatar26 NovSaudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Matchday 6
Home teamScoreAway team
Persepolis Iran2 DecIraq Al-Shorta
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2 DecIran Esteghlal
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates2 DecQatar Al-Rayyan
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia2 DecQatar Al-Sadd
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan3 DecUnited Arab Emirates Al Ain
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia3 DecQatar Al-Gharafa
Matchday 7
Home teamScoreAway team
Al Ain United Arab Emirates3 FebQatar Al-Rayyan
Esteghlal Iran3 FebIraq Al-Shorta
Al-Sadd Qatar3 FebSaudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia3 FebUnited Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Al-Gharafa Qatar4 FebUzbekistan Pakhtakor
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia4 FebIran Persepolis
Matchday 8
Home teamScoreAway team
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan17 FebQatar Al-Sadd
Al-Shorta Iraq17 FebUnited Arab Emirates Al Ain
Persepolis Iran17 FebSaudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia17 FebQatar Al-Gharafa
Al-Rayyan Qatar18 FebIran Esteghlal
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates18 FebSaudi Arabia Al-Hilal

East Region

[edit]
Table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Japan Vissel Kobe 4 3 1 0 6 1 +5 10 Advance to round of 16
2 South Korea Gwangju 4 3 0 1 11 6 +5 9
3 Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 4 2 1 1 14 9 +5 7
4 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 4 2 1 1 9 5 +4 7
5 China Shanghai Shenhua 4 2 1 1 8 6 +2 7
6 Thailand Buriram United 4 2 1 1 3 6 −3 7
7 South Korea Pohang Steelers 4 2 0 2 8 7 +1 6
8 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 4 2 0 2 4 4 0 6
9 China Shandong Taishan 4 1 1 2 8 9 −1 4
10 China Shanghai Port 4 1 1 2 6 10 −4 4
11 Australia Central Coast Mariners 4 0 1 3 6 10 −4 1
12 South Korea Ulsan HD 4 0 0 4 0 10 −10 0
Updated to match(es) played on 6 November 2024. 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
Results
Matchday 1
Home teamScoreAway team
Gwangju South Korea7–3Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
Shandong Taishan China3–1Australia Central Coast Mariners
Buriram United Thailand0–0Japan Vissel Kobe
Shanghai Shenhua China4–1South Korea Pohang Steelers
Ulsan HD South Korea0–1Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Shanghai Port China2–2Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Matchday 2
Home teamScoreAway team
Central Coast Mariners Australia1–2Thailand Buriram United
Kawasaki Frontale Japan0–1South Korea Gwangju
Pohang Steelers South Korea3–0China Shanghai Port
Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia3–0China Shanghai Shenhua
Vissel Kobe Japan2–1China Shandong Taishan
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan4–0South Korea Ulsan HD
Matchday 3
Home teamScoreAway team
Gwangju South Korea3–1Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Shanghai Port China3–2Australia Central Coast Mariners
Shandong Taishan China2–2Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
Buriram United Thailand1–0South Korea Pohang Steelers
Ulsan HD South Korea0–2Japan Vissel Kobe
Shanghai Shenhua China2–0Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Matchday 4
Home teamScoreAway team
Central Coast Mariners Australia2–2China Shanghai Shenhua
Kawasaki Frontale Japan3–1China Shanghai Port
Vissel Kobe Japan2–0South Korea Gwangju
Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia3–0South Korea Ulsan HD
Pohang Steelers South Korea4–2China Shandong Taishan
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan5–0Thailand Buriram United
Matchday 5
Home teamScoreAway team
Vissel Kobe Japan26 NovAustralia Central Coast Mariners
Ulsan HD South Korea26 NovChina Shanghai Port
Shandong Taishan China26 NovMalaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Buriram United Thailand26 NovJapan Kawasaki Frontale
Gwangju South Korea27 NovChina Shanghai Shenhua
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan27 NovSouth Korea Pohang Steelers
Matchday 6
Home teamScoreAway team
Central Coast Mariners Australia3 DecJapan Yokohama F. Marinos
Pohang Steelers South Korea3 DecJapan Vissel Kobe
Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia3 DecThailand Buriram United
Shanghai Port China3 DecSouth Korea Gwangju
Kawasaki Frontale Japan4 DecChina Shandong Taishan
Shanghai Shenhua China4 DecSouth Korea Ulsan HD
Matchday 7
Home teamScoreAway team
Central Coast Mariners Australia11 FebMalaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Vissel Kobe Japan11 FebChina Shanghai Port
Pohang Steelers South Korea11 FebJapan Kawasaki Frontale
Shandong Taishan China11 FebSouth Korea Gwangju
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan12 FebChina Shanghai Shenhua
Buriram United Thailand12 FebSouth Korea Ulsan HD
Matchday 8
Home teamScoreAway team
Gwangju South Korea18 FebThailand Buriram United
Kawasaki Frontale Japan18 FebAustralia Central Coast Mariners
Shanghai Shenhua China18 FebJapan Vissel Kobe
Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia18 FebSouth Korea Pohang Steelers
Ulsan HD South Korea19 FebChina Shandong Taishan
Shanghai Port China19 FebJapan Yokohama F. Marinos

Knockout stage

[edit]

Round of 16

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage

A total of 16 teams will qualify for the knockout stage, with each region having 8 teams to qualify.

The first legs will be played on 3–5 March, and the second legs will be played on 10–12 March 2025.

West Region
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region 8thR16 West 1West Region 1st3–4 Mar10–11 Mar
West Region 7thR16 West 2West Region 2nd3–4 Mar10–11 Mar
West Region 6thR16 West 3West Region 3rd3–4 Mar10–11 Mar
West Region 5thR16 West 4West Region 4th3–4 Mar10–11 Mar
East Region
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
East Region 8thR16 East 1East Region 1st4–5 Mar11–12 Mar
East Region 7thR16 East 2East Region 2nd4–5 Mar11–12 Mar
East Region 6thR16 East 3East Region 3rd4–5 Mar11–12 Mar
East Region 5thR16 East 4East Region 4th4–5 Mar11–12 Mar

Final

[edit]
Main article: 2025 AFC Champions League Elite final

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 25 November 2024
  Team eliminated for this round.
  Player is not in the team but the team is still active for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 MD7 MD8 R16-1 R16-2 QF SF F Total
1 Albania Jasir Asani South Korea Gwangju 3 1 2 6
2 Malaysia Arif Aiman Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 2 1 1 4
Saudi Arabia Salem Al-Dawsari Saudi Arabia Al Hilal 1 3
Serbia Aleksandar Mitrović Saudi Arabia Al Hilal 1 3
Japan Taisei Miyashiro Japan Vissel Kobe 1 2 1
Morocco Soufiane Rahimi United Arab Emirates Al Ain 1 3
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo Saudi Arabia Al Nassr 1 1 2
8 Spain Joselu Qatar Al-Gharafa 2 1 3
Brazil André Luis China Shanghai Shenhua 1 1 1
Algeria Riyad Mahrez Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1 2
11 Qatar Akram Afif Qatar Al Sadd 1 1 2
Saudi Arabia Firas Al-Buraikan Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1 1
Brazil Guilherme Bissoli Thailand Buriram United 1 1
Brazil Cryzan China Shandong Taishan 1 1
Brazil Élber Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 2
Brazil Róger Guedes Qatar Al-Rayyan 1 1
Paraguay Kaku United Arab Emirates Al Ain 1 1
Brazil Anderson Lopes Japan Yokohama F.Marinos 1 1
Switzerland Cephas Malele China Shanghai Shenhua 2
Brazil Marcos Leonardo Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1 1
Brazil Mikael Doka Australia Central Coast Mariners 1 1
Serbia Sergej Milinković-Savić Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1 1
Japan Takuma Nishimura Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 1 1
Brazil Talisca Saudi Arabia Al Nassr 2
England Ivan Toney Saudi Arabia Al Ahli 2
Georgia (country) Valeri Qazaishvili China Shandong Taishan 2
Brazil Roberto Firmino Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 2
Argentina Matías Vargas China Shanghai Port 1 1
Note
  • Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Pre-determined format
  2. ^ two-legged ties
  3. ^ centralized venue in Saudi Arabia

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". AFC. 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Saudi Arabia to host AFC Champions League Elite – Final Stage". the-AFC. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". AFC. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  6. ^ "광주FC - GWANGJU FOOTBALL CLUB". www.gwangjufc.com (in Korean). Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  7. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". AFC. 1 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Preliminary battles to kick-start ACL Elite 2024/25". the-AFC. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
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