In the upcoming round of the Asian Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is set to face fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha in the last 16. Having emerged unbeaten from the group phase earlier this month, Al-Nassr will meet the tournament debutants over two legs, with the first scheduled for Feb. 12 or 13 and the second a week later.
Four-time winners Al-Hilal are slated to take on Iran’s Sepahan, traveling for the first leg before hosting the Isfahan-based team in Riyadh. Meanwhile, Jeddah’s Al-Ittihad, led by Karim Benzema, will meet Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in the next phase of the competition.
Nasaf from Uzbekistan will face former champions Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates, adding an exciting dimension to the tournament. On the eastern side of the draw, South Korean powerhouses Jeonbuk Motors and Pohang Steelers, boasting five Asian Champions League titles between them, are set for a thrilling showdown in the last 16.
Ulsan Hyundai, another former champion from South Korea, will take on Japan’s Ventforet Kofu, who have made history by becoming the first second-division outfit to progress to the competition’s knockout rounds. The matchups also include Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan against Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, and Thailand’s Bangkok United facing off against 2022 J.League champions Yokohama F Marinos.
Teams from the western and eastern regions will remain separated through the quarter-finals and semi-finals, scheduled for March and April, respectively. The successful teams on each side of the draw will vie for the championship over two legs in the final, slated for May 11 and 18 on a home-and-away basis.
