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The 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage was played from September to December 2023.
A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.
Draw
The draw for the group stage was held on 24 August 2023 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[1] The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four: five groups each in the West Region (Groups A–E) and the East Region (Groups F–J). For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association, in consideration of the technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
Format
In the group stage, each group was played in a double round-robin format on home and away basis. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
Tiebreakers
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 8.3):[2]
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- 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;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
- 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);
- Association ranking.
Schedule
The schedule of the group stage was as follows.[3]
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 18–20 September 2023 |
| Matchday 2 | 2–4 October 2023 |
| Matchday 3 | 23–25 October 2023 |
| Matchday 4 | 6–8 November 2023 |
| Matchday 5 | 27–29 November 2023 |
| Matchday 6 | 4–6, 12–13 December 2023 |
Groups
Summarize
Perspective
The detailed schedule was announced on 24 August 2023 after the draw ceremony.[4] It was updated on 6 September.[5]
Group A
Pakhtakor  | 0–3 |  Al-Ain |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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| Pakhtakor | 3–0 |  Ahal |
|---|---|---|
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Report |
Group B
Al-Faisaly  | 0–1 | Nasaf |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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| Sharjah | 1–0 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Sharjah | 1–0 | Nasaf |
|---|---|---|
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Report |
| Al-Faisaly | 2–0 |  Al Sadd |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Nasaf | 3–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
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Report |
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| Al-Faisaly | 2–1 | Sharjah |
|---|---|---|
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Report |
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Group C
- The match was abandoned after Al-Ittihad walked off in protest due to the presence of a sculpture of Qasem Soleimani on the pitch.[6] The match was awarded a 3–0 win to Al-Ittihad, with Sepahan also being fined $200,000 and banned from hosting its next three Asian Champions League matches at home.[7][8]
| AGMK | 1–2 |  Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Al-Ittihad  | 1–0 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 19,098
Sepahan  | 9–0 | AGMK |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 2–0 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| AGMK | 1–2 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Sepahan | 1–0 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 3–2 | AGMK |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Group D
| Al-Hilal | 1–1 | Navbahor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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Attendance: 26,713
Attendance: 1,529
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)
| Navbahor | 3–0 |  Mumbai City |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Hilal | 6–0 | Mumbai City |
|---|---|---|
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Report |
| Navbahor | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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| Al-Hilal | 2–1 | Nassaji Mazandaran |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Mumbai City | 1–2 | Navbahor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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Attendance: 476
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)
Group E
| Persepolis | 0–2 | Al Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Duhail | 0–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Alishah  63' |
| Persepolis | 2–0 |  Istiklol |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Istiklol | 1–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
| Sebai 74' |
Report | Torabi 29' |
| Al Nassr | 0–0 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Attendance: 17,715
Group F
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors  | 2–1 |  Kitchee |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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Lion City Sailors  | 1–2 |  Bangkok United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Bangkok United | 3–2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3–0 | Lion City Sailors |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 2,259
Referee: Majed Mohammed Alshamrani (Saudi Arabia)
| Lion City Sailors | 2–0 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Bangkok United | 1–1 | Kitchee |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Kitchee | 1–2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Lion City Sailors | 0–2 | Kitchee |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3–2 | Bangkok United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FMA | SHT | ICN | KAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yokohama F. Marinos |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 12[a] | Advance to round of 16 | — | 3–0 | 2–4 | 3–0 | |
| 2 |  Shandong Taishan |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 12[a] | 0–1 | — | 3–1 | 6–1 | ||
| 3 | Incheon United |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 12[a] | 2–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | ||
| 4 |  Kaya–Iloilo |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 21 | −17 | 0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 2–4 | Incheon United |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Kaya–Iloilo | 1–3 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 43,783
Referee: Ahmed Issa (United Arab Emirates)
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 3–0 | Kaya–Iloilo |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shandong Taishan | 3–1 | Incheon United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 20,723
Referee: Adel Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
| Kaya–Iloilo | 1–2 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Incheon United | 2–1 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | 6–1 | Kaya–Iloilo |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Attendance: 13,756
Referee: Mohammed Khled Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 3–0 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Kaya–Iloilo | 1–3 | Incheon United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Group H
| Ventforet Kofu | 1–0 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Zhejiang | 2–0 | Ventforet Kofu |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 2,472
Referee: Majed Mohammed Alshamrani (Saudi Arabia)
| Zhejiang | 3–2 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Melbourne City  | 1–1 | Zhejiang |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Group I
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KWF | UHD | JDT | BGP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale |
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 16 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 1–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | |
| 2 | Ulsan Hyundai |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 10 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | ||
| 3 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim |
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 9 | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 4–1 | ||
| 4 | BG Pathum United |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 22 | −13 | 0 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | — |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 3–1 | BG Pathum United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 5,964
| Ulsan Hyundai | 3–1 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| BG Pathum United | 2–4 | Kawasaki Frontale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Kawasaki Frontale | 4–2 | BG Pathum United |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2–1 | Ulsan Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| BG Pathum United | 1–3 | Ulsan Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 9,274
Group J
| Wuhan Three Towns | 2–2 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Hanoi FC  | 2–4 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Urawa Red Diamonds | 6–0 | Hanoi FC |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Pohang Steelers | 3–1 | Wuhan Three Towns |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Wuhan Three Towns | 2–1 | Hanoi FC |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Pohang Steelers | 2–1 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Hanoi FC | 2–1 | Wuhan Three Towns |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Pohang Steelers | 2–0 | Hanoi FC |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Ho-jae 33' (pen.) Ha Chang-rae 53' |
Report |
| Wuhan Three Towns | 1–1 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
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| Hanoi FC | 2–1 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Ranking of second-placed teams
West Region
Source: AFC
East Region
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Shandong Taishan |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 12 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | F | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 12 | |
| 3 | I | Ulsan Hyundai |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 10 | |
| 4 | H | Melbourne City |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 9 | |
| 5 | J | Urawa Red Diamonds |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 7 |
Source: AFC
See also
Notes
- Team did not use their own home stadium.
- The match was abandoned due to the visiting team's protest over the presence of a sculpture of Qasem Soleimani on the pitch.[6] The match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Al-Ittihad due to Sepahan's violation of the rules.[7][8]
- After an investigation about displaying a sculpture of Qasem Soleimani during the home match against Ittihad FC, Sepahan were banned from playing three home matches of this competition at Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium. Since Sepahan qualified for the knockout stage, this ban will include the home leg in the round of 16.[9]
References
External links
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