2023-12-19T13:35:40+00:00
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/ Saudi press reports revealed today, Tuesday, that the Asian Football Confederation is studying a “surprising” proposal that would scatter the cards in the draw for the quarter-finals 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 Western Region qualified for the quarter-finals, and are scheduled to meet in 4 elimination matches.
Al-Hilal, Al-Nasr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ain, and Nassaf of Uzbekistan topped the five groups, while Al-Fayhaa, Sepahan Isfahan of Iran, and Navbakhor of Uzbekistan qualified as the best clubs in second place.
According to the current system, the first classification includes Al-Hilal, Al-Nasr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ain, as they are the 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, being the lowest points scored among the leading clubs (11 points).
The draw is supposed to be held so that the first-class clubs face their counterparts in the second classification, provided that the two teams have not met in the group stage, while two teams from one country are allowed to face each other.
However, the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat indicated that the AFC is considering holding a separate draw to choose the team that tops its group and will be in the second classification, instead of Nasaf being present directly.
The newspaper reported that Federation 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 the 12th and 13th of next February at the stadiums of the second classification clubs, with the return matches being held on the 19th and 20th of the same month at the stadiums of the first classification clubs.