Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli to begin Asian Champions League title defence against Pakhtakor
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli will begin the defence of its AFC Champions League Elite title on Monday with a match against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor. The Jeddah club will field a revamped squad under a new head coach and will seek to become the first team to win the trophy three times in a row, Channel NewsAsia reports.
Change of coach and squad
Matthias Jaissle, who led Al-Ahli to two consecutive tournament victories, left the club in August to join England’s Newcastle United. Marino Pusic, who previously managed Dutch side Twente and Shakhtar Donetsk, was appointed as the new coach.
Winger Riyad Mahrez, who played an important role in both of the club’s title-winning campaigns, left the team in June after his contract expired. Midfielder Franck Kessie moved to Italy’s Atalanta, while Roberto Firmino left Al-Ahli last year.
Last season, Al-Ahli won the title in Jeddah by defeating Japan’s Machida Zelvia. Machida will not take part in the new edition, having finished outside the qualification places last season.
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Expanded tournament format
The league stage of the competition will feature 16 clubs each from the western and eastern parts of Asia, compared with 12 in each part of the continent in the previous two seasons. The teams will play eight matches each, with the top eight representatives from both the West and East advancing to the round of 16.
The first playoff round will be held on a regional basis. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place in Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive season: the final stage will begin on April 23, with the decisive match scheduled for May 1.
Alongside Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia will be represented by four-time tournament winner Al-Hilal, reigning national champion Al-Nassr, as well as Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah. Japan will have a record five clubs: Kashima Antlers, Gamba Osaka, Kyoto Sanga, Kashiwa Reysol and Vissel Kobe.
