AFC Champions League Elite
The-AFC.com highlights five takeaways from an exciting opening round of the League Stage.
Saudi Arabian sides under pressure
Teams from Saudi Arabia dominated the League Stage last season, with all three advancing to the semi-finals but if the opening round of matches is an indication, their sides in the fray this season will have to work much harder this time around.
Teams from Saudi Arabia dominated the League Stage last season, with all three advancing to the semi-finals but if the opening round of matches is an indication, their sides in the fray this season will have to work much harder this time around.
Defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Hilal SFC had to come from behind to register wins while Al Ittihad Club were shocked 2-1 by UAE's Al Wahda FC and the trio must brace themselves for similar tests from their other opponents in the upcoming matches.
Continental cheer for Ulsan HD
The K League 1 title is lost but Ulsan HD will draw inspiration from their 2-1 defeat of China PR's Chengdu Rongcheng as they seek a third continental title.
The K League 1 title is lost but Ulsan HD will draw inspiration from their 2-1 defeat of China PR's Chengdu Rongcheng as they seek a third continental title.
They only registered a single win against six defeats in last season's League Stage as they finished 10th in the standings but with three points already on the board, Ulsan will be on a mission to redeem themselves after a tough year.
UAE teams impress
All three UAE sides walked away undefeated from Matchday One, with Al Wahda and Sharjah FC registering impressive wins while Shabab Al Ahli drew.
All three UAE sides walked away undefeated from Matchday One, with Al Wahda and Sharjah FC registering impressive wins while Shabab Al Ahli drew.
Al Wahda were superb in their win against Al Ittihad while AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 winners Sharjah showed determination in their come-from-behind 4-3 victory against Qatar's Al Gharafa SC. Shabab Al Ahli forced a 1-1 draw with Tractor FC of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the three UAE sides showed they are well in contention for places in the Round of 16.
Vissel Kobe lead Japan's challenge
If UAE teams impressed in the West, Japanese clubs did so in the East with Vissel Kobe leading their charge with a 3-0 defeat of Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port FC.
If UAE teams impressed in the West, Japanese clubs did so in the East with Vissel Kobe leading their charge with a 3-0 defeat of Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port FC.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima also shined, overcoming fatigue from a long journey to beat Melbourne City FC 2-0, while FC Machida Zelvia marked their continental debut with a 1-1 stalemate with FC Seoul. All three will fancy their chances of advancing to the Round of 16.
Super Suphanat
The League Stage may only be a match old but Suphanat Mueanta has already shown that he is primed to impress on the continental stage as he scored one and assisted the other in Buriram United's 2-1 win against ASEAN rivals Johor Darul Ta'zim.
The League Stage may only be a match old but Suphanat Mueanta has already shown that he is primed to impress on the continental stage as he scored one and assisted the other in Buriram United's 2-1 win against ASEAN rivals Johor Darul Ta'zim.
The right winger also scored against Johor Darul Ta'zim when the teams met in last season's Round of 16 and Buriram United will expect more from the 23-year-old as they bid to better last season's quarter-final appearance.
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