2019 AFC Champions League group stage

Summary

The 2019 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 4 March to 29 May 2019.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League.[2] The postponement of Group A fixture between Zob Ahan and Al-Nassr made the group stage conclude a week behind schedule.[3]

Draw edit

The draw for the group stage was held on 22 November 2018, 16:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[4] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H). Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.

The mechanism of the draw was as follows:[5]

  • For the West Region, there was no associations draw due to country protection. A draw was held for each of the four associations with more than one direct entrant (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran) to determine for each team their group positions:
    • The three direct entrants of the United Arab Emirates were drawn to positions A1, B2, or C3, while the play-off winners West 1 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position D4.
    • The three direct entrants of Saudi Arabia were drawn to positions B1, C2, or D3, while the play-off winners West 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position A4.
    • The two direct entrants of Qatar were drawn to positions C1 or D2, while the play-off winners West 3 and 4 (which their play-off teams may advance from) were drawn to positions A3 or B4.
    • The two direct entrants of Iran were drawn to positions D1 or C4.
    • The direct entrants of Uzbekistan and Iraq were allocated to positions B3 and A2 respectively.
  • For the East Region, a draw was held for the two associations with three direct entrants (South Korea, China) to determine the order of associations. After the associations draw, a draw was held for each of the four associations with more than one direct entrant (South Korea, China, Japan, Australia) to determine for each team their group positions:
    • The three direct entrants of the first association drawn (South Korea or China) were drawn to positions E1, F2, or G3, while the play-off winners East 1 or 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position H4.
    • The three direct entrants of the second association drawn (South Korea or China) were drawn to positions F1, G2, or H3, while the play-off winners East 1 or 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position E4.
    • The two direct entrants of Japan were drawn to positions G1 or H2, while the play-off winners East 3 and 4 (which their play-off teams may advance from) were either allocated to F4 and E3 respectively (if South Korea were the first association drawn), or drawn to positions E3 or F4 (if China were the first association drawn).
    • The two direct entrants of Australia were either drawn to positions H1 or F3 (if South Korea were the first association drawn, or if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 4 were drawn to position E3), or positions H1 or E2 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 3 were drawn to position E3).
    • The direct entrants of Thailand and Malaysia were allocated to either positions G4 and E2 (if South Korea were the first association drawn), positions F3 and G4 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 4 were drawn to position E3), or positions E2 and G4 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 3 were drawn to position E3) respectively.

The following 32 teams entered into the group stage draw, which included the 24 direct entrants and the eight winners of the play-off round of the qualifying play-offs, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.

Region Groups Teams
West Region A–D   Al-Ain   Al-Wahda   Al-Wasl   Pakhtakor (Winners of Play-off West 1)
  Al-Hilal   Al-Ittihad   Al-Ahli   Al-Nassr (Winners of Play-off West 2)
  Al-Duhail   Al-Sadd   Al-Rayyan (Winners of Play-off West 3)   Zob Ahan (Winners of Play-off West 4)
  Persepolis   Esteghlal   Lokomotiv Tashkent[note 1]   Al-Zawraa
East Region E–H   Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors   Daegu FC[note 1]   Gyeongnam FC[note 1]   Ulsan Hyundai (Winners of Play-off East 1)
  Shanghai SIPG   Beijing FC[note 1]   Guangzhou Evergrande   Shandong Luneng (Winners of Play-off East 2)
  Kawasaki Frontale   Urawa Red Diamonds[note 1]   Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Winners of Play-off East 3)   Kashima Antlers (Winners of Play-off East 4)
  Sydney FC   Melbourne Victory   Buriram United   Johor Darul Ta'zim

Format edit

In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.

Tiebreakers edit

The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 10.5):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  5. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group were tied;
  9. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  10. Association ranking.

Schedule edit

The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1][6]

  • Matches in the West Region were played on Mondays and Tuesdays. Two groups were played on each day, with the following groups played on Mondays:
    • Matchdays 1 and 2: Groups A and B
    • Matchday 3: Groups A and C
    • Matchday 4: Groups B and D
    • Matchdays 5 and 6: Groups C and D
  • Matches in the East Region were played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Two groups were played on each day, with the following groups played on Tuesdays:
    • Matchdays 1 and 2: Groups E and F
    • Matchday 3: Groups E and G
    • Matchday 4: Groups F and H
    • Matchdays 5 and 6: Groups G and H
Matchday Dates Matches
Matchday 1 4–6 March 2019 Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2
Matchday 2 11–13 March 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1
Matchday 3 8–10 April 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3
Matchday 4 22–24 April 2019 Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 5 6–8 May 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 6 20–22 May 2019 Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4

Groups edit

Group A edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZOB NAS ZAW WAS
1   Zob Ahan 6 3 3 0 10 5 +5 12 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 0–0 2–0
2   Al-Nassr 6 3 1 2 11 7 +4 10 2–3 4–1 3–1
3   Al-Zawraa 6 2 2 2 14 9 +5 8 2–2 1–2 5–0
4   Al-Wasl 6 1 0 5 4 18 −14 3 1–3 1–0 1–5
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Wasl  1–0  Al-Nassr
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 5,370
Zob Ahan  0–0  Al-Zawraa
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 2,433
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

Al-Zawraa  5–0  Al-Wasl
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Nassr  2–3  Zob Ahan
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Wasl  1–3  Zob Ahan
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 620
Al-Nassr  4–1  Al-Zawraa
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Zawraa  1–2  Al-Nassr
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 27,500
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Zob Ahan  2–0  Al-Wasl
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Zawraa  2–2  Zob Ahan
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Nassr  3–1  Al-Wasl
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Wasl  1–5  Al-Zawraa
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 365
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Zob Ahan  0–0  Al-Nassr
Live Report
Stats Report

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WAH ITH LOK RAY
1   Al-Wahda 6 4 1 1 14 9 +5 13 Advance to knockout stage 4–1 3–1 4–3
2   Al-Ittihad 6 3 2 1 13 9 +4 11 1–1 3–2 5–1
3   Lokomotiv Tashkent 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7 2–0 1–1 3–2
4   Al-Rayyan 6 1 0 5 9 17 −8 3 1–2 0–2 2–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lokomotiv Tashkent  2–0  Al-Wahda
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ittihad  5–1  Al-Rayyan
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Rayyan  2–1  Lokomotiv Tashkent
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 1,103
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Al-Wahda  4–1  Al-Ittihad
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 2,779
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)

Al-Rayyan  1–2  Al-Wahda
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ittihad  3–2  Lokomotiv Tashkent
Live Report
Stats Report

Lokomotiv Tashkent  1–1  Al-Ittihad
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,267
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Al-Wahda  4–3  Al-Rayyan
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 3,727
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

Al-Wahda  3–1  Lokomotiv Tashkent
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Rayyan  0–2  Al-Ittihad
Live Report
Stats Report

Lokomotiv Tashkent  3–2  Al-Rayyan
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 2,540
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Al-Ittihad  1–1  Al-Wahda
Live Report
Stats Report

Group C edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HIL DUH EST AIN
1   Al-Hilal 6 4 1 1 10 5 +5 13 Advance to knockout stage 3–1 1–0 2–0
2   Al-Duhail 6 2 3 1 11 8 +3 9 2–2 3–0 2–2
3   Esteghlal 6 2 2 2 6 8 −2 8 2–1 1–1 1–1
4   Al-Ain 6 0 2 4 4 10 −6 2 0–1 0–2 1–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Duhail  3–0  Esteghlal
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ain  0–1  Al-Hilal
Live Report
Stats Report

Esteghlal  1–1  Al-Ain
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 65,178
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Al-Hilal  3–1  Al-Duhail
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Duhail  2–2  Al-Ain
Live Report
Stats Report
  • Maroof   36'
  • Berg   58'
Attendance: 6,300
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Esteghlal  2–1  Al-Hilal
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Hilal  1–0  Esteghlal
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ain  0–2  Al-Duhail
Live Report
Stats Report

Esteghlal  1–1  Al-Duhail
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 37,400
Al-Hilal  2–0  Al-Ain
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Duhail  2–2  Al-Hilal
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ain  1–2  Esteghlal
Live Report
Stats Report

Group D edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAD AHL PAK PER
1   Al-Sadd 6 3 1 2 7 8 −1 10 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 2–1 1–0
2   Al-Ahli 6 3 0 3 7 7 0 9 2–0 2–1 2–1
3   Pakhtakor 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 2–2 1–0 1–0
4   Persepolis 6 2 1 3 6 5 +1 7 2–0 2–0 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Persepolis  1–1  Pakhtakor
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 46,350
Al-Ahli  2–0  Al-Sadd
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 7,328
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Pakhtakor  1–0  Al-Ahli
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Sadd  1–0  Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report

Pakhtakor  2–2  Al-Sadd
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 32,315
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Persepolis  2–0  Al-Ahli
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 1,878
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

Al-Ahli  2–1  Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Sadd  2–1  Pakhtakor
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,692
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)

Pakhtakor  1–0  Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Sadd  2–1  Al-Ahli
Live Report
Stats Report

Persepolis  2–0  Al-Sadd
Live Report
Stats Report
Al-Ahli  2–1  Pakhtakor
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 23,183
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Group E edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SDL KAS GYE JDT
1   Shandong Luneng 6 3 2 1 10 8 +2 11 Advance to knockout stage 2–2 2–1 2–1
2   Kashima Antlers 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 10 2–1 0–1 2–1
3   Gyeongnam FC 6 2 2 2 9 8 +1 8 2–2 2–3 2–0
4   Johor Darul Ta'zim 6 1 1 4 4 8 −4 4 0–1 1–0 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Kashima Antlers  2–1  Johor Darul Ta'zim
Live Report
Stats Report
Gyeongnam FC  2–2  Shandong Luneng
Live Report
Stats Report

Shandong Luneng  2–2  Kashima Antlers
Live Report
Stats Report
  • Ito   10', 14'
Attendance: 12,185
Referee: Mooud Bonyadifar (Iran)
Johor Darul Ta'zim  1–1  Gyeongnam FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 16,130
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)

Gyeongnam FC  2–3  Kashima Antlers
Live Report
Stats Report
Shandong Luneng  2–1  Johor Darul Ta'zim
Live Report
Stats Report

Kashima Antlers  0–1  Gyeongnam FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 7,193
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Johor Darul Ta'zim  0–1  Shandong Luneng
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 13,960

Shandong Luneng  2–1  Gyeongnam FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Johor Darul Ta'zim  1–0  Kashima Antlers
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,860
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)

Gyeongnam FC  2–0  Johor Darul Ta'zim
Live Report
Stats Report
Kashima Antlers  2–1  Shandong Luneng
  • Ito   68', 70'
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 8,836
Referee: Khamis Al-Kuwari (Qatar)

Group F edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAN GZE DAE MVC
1   Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 5 0 1 9 4 +5 15 Advance to knockout stage 1–0 2–0 2–1
2   Guangzhou Evergrande 6 3 1 2 9 5 +4 10 2–0 1–0 4–0
3   Daegu FC 6 3 0 3 10 6 +4 9 0–1 3–1 4–0
4   Melbourne Victory 6 0 1 5 4 17 −13 1 1–3 1–1 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Melbourne Victory  1–3  Daegu FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Guangzhou Evergrande  2–0  Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Live Report
Stats Report

Sanfrecce Hiroshima  2–1  Melbourne Victory
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 8,968
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Daegu FC  3–1  Guangzhou Evergrande
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 11,064

Sanfrecce Hiroshima  2–0  Daegu FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 2,611
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)
Guangzhou Evergrande  4–0  Melbourne Victory
Live Report
Stats Report

Melbourne Victory  1–1  Guangzhou Evergrande
Live Report
Stats Report
Daegu FC  0–1  Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Live Report
Stats Report

Sanfrecce Hiroshima  1–0  Guangzhou Evergrande
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,302
Daegu FC  4–0  Melbourne Victory
Live Report
Stats Report

Guangzhou Evergrande  1–0  Daegu FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Melbourne Victory  1–3  Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Live Report
Stats Report

Group G edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JEO URA BJG BUR
1   Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 4 1 1 7 3 +4 13 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 3–1 0–0
2   Urawa Red Diamonds 6 3 1 2 9 4 +5 10 0–1 3–0 3–0
3   Beijing FC 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7 0–1 0–0 2–0
4   Buriram United 6 1 1 4 3 10 −7 4 1–0 1–2 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors  3–1  Beijing FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 8,566
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Urawa Red Diamonds  3–0  Buriram United
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 20,056
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)

Buriram United  1–0  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 7,222
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Beijing FC  0–0  Urawa Red Diamonds
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 43,112
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)

Urawa Red Diamonds  0–1  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 20,118
Buriram United  1–3  Beijing FC
Live Report
Stats Report

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors  2–1  Urawa Red Diamonds
Live Report
Stats Report
Beijing FC  2–0  Buriram United
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 25,720
Referee: Khamis Al-Kuwari (Qatar)

Buriram United  1–2  Urawa Red Diamonds
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 10,970
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Beijing FC  0–1  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Live Report
Stats Report

Urawa Red Diamonds  3–0  Beijing FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 22,885
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors  0–0  Buriram United
Live Report
Stats Report

Group H edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ULS SSI KAW SYD
1   Ulsan Hyundai 6 3 2 1 5 7 −2 11 Advance to knockout stage 1–0 1–0 1–0
2   Shanghai SIPG 6 2 3 1 13 8 +5 9 5–0 1–0 2–2
3   Kawasaki Frontale 6 2 2 2 9 6 +3 8 2–2 2–2 1–0
4   Sydney FC 6 0 3 3 5 11 −6 3 0–0 3–3 0–4
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Sydney FC  0–0  Ulsan Hyundai
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,039
Referee: Khamis Al-Kuwari (Qatar)
Shanghai SIPG  1–0  Kawasaki Frontale
Live Report
Stats Report

Ulsan Hyundai  1–0  Shanghai SIPG
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 4,265
Referee: Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)
Kawasaki Frontale  1–0  Sydney FC
Live Report
Stats Report

Sydney FC  3–3  Shanghai SIPG
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 7,154
Ulsan Hyundai  1–0  Kawasaki Frontale
Live Report
Stats Report

Kawasaki Frontale  2–2  Ulsan Hyundai
Live Report
Stats Report
Shanghai SIPG  2–2  Sydney FC
Live Report
Stats Report

Ulsan Hyundai  1–0  Sydney FC
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 1,520
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Kawasaki Frontale  2–2  Shanghai SIPG
Live Report
Stats Report

Sydney FC  0–4  Kawasaki Frontale
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 3,813
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)
Shanghai SIPG  5–0  Ulsan Hyundai
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 22,763
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e The identity of the first group stage team from Uzbekistan, the second and third group stage teams from South Korea, and the second group stage teams from China and Japan was not known at the time of the group stage draw.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.
  3. ^ a b The Zob Ahan v Al-Nassr match, originally scheduled to be played on 21 May 2019, 21:00 UTC+3, at Karbala Sports City, Karbala (Iraq), was postponed due to safety concerns.[3][7] The match was rescheduled to 29 May 2019 and moved to a new venue.[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2019". AFC. 1 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "2019 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  3. ^ a b "AFC Champions League 2019 match between Zob Ahan and Al Nassr postponed due to safety concerns". Fox Sports Asia. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Continent's elite set for 2019 campaign". AFC. 22 November 2018.
  5. ^ "亚冠小组赛抽签规则有变 极端情况中日韩冠军同组" (in Chinese).
  6. ^ "AFC Champions League 2019 Official Match Schedule". AFC.
  7. ^ "Zobahan vs Al Nassr tie postponed". Asian Football Confederation. 21 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Iran's Zob Ahan, Saudi's Al Nassr match new date, venue announced". Mehr News Agency. 22 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Zobahan vs Al Nassr tie on May 29". AFC. 23 May 2019.

External links edit

  • AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com
  • AFC Champions League 2019, stats.the-AFC.com