2023-12-19T13:35:40+00:00
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/ Saudi press reports revealed, on Tuesday, that the Asian Football Confederation is studying a “surprising” proposal that would scatter the cards in the draw for the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, and open the door to exciting confrontations.
The draw is scheduled to take place on December 28, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
8 clubs from the West Zone have qualified for the Round of 16, and are scheduled to meet in 4 knockout matches.
Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ain and Nasaf of Uzbekistan topped the five groups, while Al Feiha, Sepahan of Iran and Navbakhor of Uzbekistan qualified as the best second-placed clubs.
According to the current system, the first classification includes Al Hilal, Al Nasr, Al Ittihad and Al Ain, as they are clubs that qualified at the top of the group.
While Nasaf is in the second classification with the three clubs that finished the group stage in second place, as it is the club with the fewest points (11 points).
The draw is supposed to be held so that the clubs in the first category face their counterparts in the second category, provided that the two teams have not met in the group stage, while two teams from the same country are allowed to face each other.
However, the Saudi newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat, indicated that the Asian Federation is considering holding a separate draw to select the team that tops its group and will be in the second classification, instead of Nasaf being directly included.
The newspaper reported that the union officials are seriously studying this proposal as it “achieves the greatest degree of justice among the group leaders.”
Based on this proposal, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nasr or Al Ain may be in the second classification, which opens the door to exciting confrontations, either Saudi-Emirati or purely Saudi.
It is noteworthy that the first leg matches of the round of 16 will be held on February 12 and 13 at the stadiums of the second-ranked clubs, while the second leg matches will be held on the 19th and 20th of the same month at the stadiums of the first-ranked clubs.