The revamped Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite kicked off with an exciting 1-1 draw between Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and Iraq’s Al Shorta on Monday. This match marked the league’s inaugural game under its new format.
Despite missing star forward Cristiano Ronaldo due to a viral infection, Al Nassr aimed to rebound from a lackluster 1-1 draw against Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League last Friday. Having defeated Al Shorta 1-0 in the Arab Club Champions Cup semifinals in August 2023, expectations were high for the Saudi club.
Al Nassr took an early lead in the 14th minute when captain Sultan Al-Ghannam delivered a clinical finish. However, Al Shorta responded swiftly, leveling the score just ten minutes later through Mohammed Dawoud after a defensive miscommunication.
The second half saw Al Nassr suffer another setback as Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic left the field injured, adding to the team’s challenges. Looking ahead, Al Nassr will host Qatar’s Al Rayyan on October 1st, hoping to secure their first win in the competition.
According to the AFC, the Champions League Elite has undergone significant changes, reducing the participating teams from 40 to 24 and introducing a Swiss League format. Teams now compete in 12-team leagues in East and West Asia, with the top eight finishers advancing to the knockout rounds in March 2025. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in April and May.
This new structure aims to heighten competition and provide more engaging matches for football enthusiasts across Asia and the globe.
Reference(s):
Ronaldo-less Nassr draw against Shorta in new AFC Champions Elite
cgtn.com
