The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage will be played from 16 September 2024 to 19 February 2025.[1]
Draw
editThe draw for the league stage took place on 16 August at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2]
Seeding
editFor 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
editEach 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
editThe 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
editThe 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
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | +11 | 12 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Al-Ahli
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 12 | |
| 3 | Al-Nassr
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 | |
| 4 | Al-Sadd
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 8 | |
| 5 | Al Wasl
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| 6 | Al-Gharafa
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 4 | |
| 7 | Al-Rayyan
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | |
| 8 | Esteghlal
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 3 | |
| 9 | Persepolis
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |
| 10 | Pakhtakor
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 | |
| 11 | Al-Shorta
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 2 | |
| 12 | Al Ain
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | −7 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 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
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
editMatches
editMatchday 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| Esteghlal | v | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
Emirates Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 4]
Matchday 6
edit| Persepolis | v | Al-Shorta |
|---|---|---|
TBD[note 4]
Matchday 7
editMatchday 8
edit| Persepolis | v | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
TBD[note 4]
East Region
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vissel Kobe
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 10 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Gwangju
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 9 | |
| 3 | Yokohama F. Marinos
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 7 | |
| 4 | Johor Darul Ta'zim
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 7 | |
| 5 | Shanghai Shenhua
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 7 | |
| 6 | Buriram United
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 7 | |
| 7 | Pohang Steelers
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 6 | |
| 8 | Kawasaki Frontale
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
| 9 | Shandong Taishan
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 4 | |
| 10 | Shanghai Port
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 4 | |
| 11 | Central Coast Mariners
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 1 | |
| 12 | 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
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
editMatches
editMatchday 1
edit| Gwangju | 7–3 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shandong Taishan | 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 | 2–1 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Matchday 3
edit| Gwangju | 3–1 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | 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 | 4–2 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 5–0 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Attendance: 8,144
Referee: Ali Saeed Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
Matchday 5
editMatchday 6
editMatchday 7
editMatchday 8
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d Al-Shorta played their home matches at Al-Madina International 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 d 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 e f 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.
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". AFC. 1 July 2023.
- ^ "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.