AFC Champions League
Cristiano’s Al Nassr handed favourable AFC Champions League draw
The draw for the Round of 16 stage of the AFC Champions League was staged on Thursday with Al Nassr pitted with Al Fayha.
The draw for the AFC Champions League 23-24 season Round of 16 was staged in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on Thursday morning with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr side drawn against Al Fayha in an all Saudi match-up.
The Riyadh giants are looking to secure their first ever AFC CL title and will be pleased with the draw as they face the low profile side from the city of Al Majma’ah. Al Fayah delivered a major shock winning the 2022 Saudi King’s Cup beating heavyweights Al Hilal on a penalty shoot out which secured a place in the Asian Champions League.
Both sides have met once this season with Ronaldo’s side emerging victorious with a 1-3 win at the Al Majma’ah Sports City stadium.
Four Saudi sides remain in the competition with Al Hilal being drawn against Iran’s Sepahan and Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad set to face Navbahor (Uzbekistan).
2023-24 AFC Champions League: R16 fixtures
West (February 12,13; February 19, 20)
R16-1: FC Nasaf (UZB) v Al Ain FC (UAE)
R16-2: Al Fayha SC (KSA) v Al Nassr (KSA)
R16-3: Sepahan SC (IRN) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
R16-4: Navbahor (UZB) v Al Ittihad (KSA)
East (February 13, 14; February 20, 21)
R16-5: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Pohang Steelers (KOR)
R16-6: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) v Ventforet Kofu (JPN)
R16-7: Shandong Taishan (CHN) v Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
R16-8: Bangkok United (THA) v Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)