Sport · Singapore Bureau
Saudi champions Al-Ahli drawn against UAE's Al-Ain in ACL Elite
Back-to-back champions Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia will face defending titleholders Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates in the league phase of the expanded Asian Champions League Elite. The fixture was confirmed following the competition draw held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
LSN Singapore ·
The Saudi club, fresh from claiming consecutive regional titles, has been paired with Al-Ain in the new league format of Asia's premier club football competition. The draw, which took place in Malaysia's capital, determined the matchups for the expanded competition designed to increase the number of group-stage fixtures.
Al-Ain secured the 2024 Asian Champions League crown, while Al-Ahli's back-to-back championships underline their recent dominance in the continental tournament. The pairing represents a significant clash between two of West Asia's strongest football clubs in the revamped league phase structure.
The expanded Asian Champions League Elite format aims to provide more competitive fixtures during the league stage, moving away from the traditional group stage setup. The new structure will see participating clubs compete in a round-robin format, with results determining progression to the knockout rounds.
Both clubs will be expected to feature among the tournament favourites, given their recent success in the competition. Their league phase encounter will be one of the marquee fixtures as the competition commences its new era with the fresh format.