The AFC Champions League knockout round was officially drawn on December 28, Beijing time, and Shandong Luneng, the only seedling team in the Chinese Super League, and Kawasaki Frontale, a J League team, met in the first round of the knockout round. Cristiano Ronaldo's Riyadh Victory has drawn a good draw against Faha in the same league, and Riyadh Crescent and Jeddah United have also had good luck.
This year, the AFC Champions League has undergone some reforms, and the original 8 groups in East and West Asia have been expanded to 10 groups, with the first place in each group and the third best group runners-up entering the knockout round. On behalf of the Chinese Super League teams are Shandong Taishan, Zhejiang and Wuhan Three Towns, after the group stage competition, Wuhan Three Towns and Zhejiang have been out, only Taishan a Chinese Super League team entered the knockout round. As the second-ranked team in the group, Taishan was listed as a second-tier team in the knockout round, and the draw rules were that the same group and the same national league team did not meet, so that the three group winners of Kofu Wind Forest, Pohang Iron Man, and Kawasaki Frontale became the only possible opponent for Taishan. After the draw, Taishan officially confirmed the head-to-head with Kawasaki Frontale.
Kawasaki Frontale was one of the best teams in the group stage, winning five straight games in the first five rounds of the group stage, securing an early knockout spot, and scoring 17 goals in six games, tying Al Ain for the most goals in the group stage. Although Kawasaki Frontale had a mediocre season in the J-League, finishing 8th, they completed back-to-back J-League titles in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021, finishing runners-up in the league last season, and winning the Emperor's Cup this season.
Obviously, it can be seen that the strength of Kawasaki Frontale is very strong, plus Fellaini, Moisés's two major meritorious foreign players have all left, and there are still 2 months before the start of the knockout round, Taishan needs to finalize new foreign players as soon as possible.
On the side of the West Asia zone, the Riyadh victory led by Ronaldo drew a good draw, because 4 of the 8 teams in the West Asia zone are from Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh wins, Riyadh Crescent and Jeddah United are the first in the group, and in the case of no longer meeting in the same group, Faha, who is ranked second in the group, was finally drawn with Riyadh Victory in the draw. For Riyadh Victory, this is an absolutely good sign, against Faha means saving a lot of travel fatigue, and Fayha's strength is a weak existence in both the top 8 in China and West Asia, as long as it is played normally, Riyadh Victory is not a big problem to advance to the top 4 in West Asia, not to mention the 2 meetings of the 2 teams this season, Riyadh Victory is an easy win.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles, and winning the AFC Champions League is one of his goals this season. In addition, Riyadh Crescent is drawn with Sepahan and Jeddah United is against Namangan New Year, and if nothing else, these two favourites will also qualify. The first leg of the knockout rounds will be played on 12-14 February, with the second leg on 19-21.
1/8 final matchup
East Asia
Jeonbuk Hyundai (Korea) vs Pohang Ironman (Korea)
Ulsan HD (Korea) vs Kofu Wind Forest (Japan)
Shandong Taishan (CHN) vs Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Bangkok United (Thailand) vs Yokohama Mariners (Japan)
West Asia Region
Nassaf (Uzbekistan) vs Al Ain (UAE)
Al-Faha (Saudi Arabia) vs Riyadh Victory (Saudi Arabia)
Sepahan (Iran) vs Riyadh Crescent (Saudi Arabia)
Namangan New Year (Uzbekistan) vs Jeddah United (Saudi Arabia)