Al-Ain begin Asian Champions League Elite defence against Al-Sadd
DOHA: Al-Ain FC of the United Arab Emirates will begin their defense of the continental title against Qatar’s Al-Sadd on Monday as Hernan Crespo’s side enters the revamped Asian Champions League Elite. After claiming victory over Yokohama F Marinos in May, Al-Ain is now eyeing the newly enhanced competition, which features only 24 teams, a significant reduction from the previous 40.
The prize pool has tripled, with a potential first prize of $12 million awaiting the champions. The long-standing group stage, in place since 2002, has been replaced by a Swiss League system, splitting clubs into 12-team East and West Asian leagues. Each team will play eight group games, starting Monday, with matches scheduled through a computer-assisted draw held in Kuala Lumpur.
The top eight teams from each league will advance to the knockout rounds in March, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in Saudi Arabia. The revamped tournament will culminate with the final on May 4, ushering in a new high-stakes era of regional club football.
