AFC Champions League group stage draw preview: the 3 teams of the Chinese Super League are in different brackets! Ronaldo's fourth gear, Neymar first gear
At 16 o'clock Beijing time on August 24, the draw ceremony for the AFC Champions League group stage is about to take place. East Asian Zone, Chinese Super League 3 teams appeared. In West Asia, there are superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Benzema.
Lottery rules
A total of 40 teams reached the AFC Champions League main stage, divided into 10 groups of 4 teams each. The West Asia Zone and East Asia Zone each have 20 teams, the former from Group A to Group E and the latter Group F to Group J.
According to the points ranking of their association in the AFC and the ranking of their teams within the association, the 40 teams are divided into four grades, each with 10 teams, and draw lots in groups; Teams in the same association shunned and could not be in the same group.
East Asia Division
1st gear: Ulsan Hyundai (Korea), Yokohama Mariner (Japan), Wuhan Sanjin (China), Buri Nanlian (Thailand), Jeonbuk Hyundai (Korea)
Second gear: Kofu Fenglin (Japan), Shandong Taishan (China), Bangkok United (Thailand), Pohang Tetsujin (Korea), Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
Pot 3: Hanoi FC (Vietnam), Kaya FC (Philippines), Johor JDT (Malaysia), Melbourne City (Australia), Lion City Mariners (Singapore)
Gear 4: Jech (Hong Kong, China), Incheon United (Korea), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Zhejiang FC (China), Pathum United (Thailand)
Three teams from the Chinese Super League participated in the AFC Champions League group stage, and last season's champion Wuhan Three Towns was in the first gear, and the situation was the best. Shandong Taishan is in second gear, while Zhejiang is in fourth gear, and the situation is the most difficult.
West Asia Division
First Gear: Jeddah United (Saudi Arabia), Persepolis (Iran), THAAD (Qatar), Tashkent Cotton Farmers (Uzbekistan), Riyadh Crescent (Saudi Arabia)
Second gear: Sepahan (Iran), Dohail (Qatar), Nasaf (Uzbekistan), Faha (Saudi Arabia), Mazandelan (Iran)
Third gear: Al Faisari (Jordan), Itinulol (Tajikistan), Baghdad Air Force (Iraq), Akhal (Turkmenistan), Mumbai City (India)
Pot 4: Ain (UAE), Riyadh Victory (Saudi Arabia), Sharjah (UAE), Al Malek (Uzbekistan), Namangan New Year (Uzbekistan)
Cristiano Ronaldo's Riyadh victory only qualified for the main draw through the play-offs, so it is only in the fourth gear and there is a high risk of falling into the group of death. Neymar's Riyadh Crescent and Benzema's Jeddah United are both in first gear.
Exit rules
The top five teams in each division, together with the three best group runners, form the round of 16, with eight teams each from the East Asia and West Asian zones.
In other words, even if you finish second in the group, you may not be able to reach the knockout stage, and you need to strive for the first place and get as many points as possible.