Champions Al Hilal Aim for Fourth Asian Football Title

Al Hilal players celebrate winning the Asian Champions League last month. (SPA)
Al Hilal players celebrate winning the Asian Champions League last month. (SPA)
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Champions Al Hilal Aim for Fourth Asian Football Title

Al Hilal players celebrate winning the Asian Champions League last month. (SPA)
Al Hilal players celebrate winning the Asian Champions League last month. (SPA)

Defending champions Al Hilal were Tuesday drawn against UAE's Al Ahli and Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor for the start of their campaign for a record fourth Asian club title in the AFC Champions League.

The Saudi giants beat Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds last month, ending a 19-year wait for their third continental trophy and joining South Korea's Pohang Steelers as the only three-time Asian champions.

They also became the competition's first West Asian winners since Qatar's Al Sadd in 2011, torpedoing a run of victories by clubs from Japan, South Korea, China and Australia.

Two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande of China, who won the Chinese Super League title this month, will face South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings after being drawn in the same group at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors, who have also clinched the title twice, will face Yokohama Marinos of Japan and Australia's Sydney FC.

Ulsan Hyundai, champions in 2012, were drawn with Shanghai Shenhua from China and Australian side Perth Glory.

"It is quite an evenly balanced" draw, AFC general secretary Windsor John told AFP. "We look forward to another thrilling campaign."

The 2020 season begins with the preliminary stage in January, with the two-leg final scheduled for November.

The AFC Champions League will feature 32 teams in 2020 for the final time, with the tournament set to expand to 40 sides from 2021.

Group A: Al Wahda (UAE), Al Shorta (IRQ), play-off winner, play-off winner

Group B: Al Hilal (KSA), Al Ahli (UAE), Pakhtakor (UZB), play-off winner

Group C: Al Duhail (QAT), Al Taawoun (KSA), Sharjah (UAE), Persepolis (IRN)

Group D: Sepahan (IRN), Al Sadd (QAT), Al Nassr (KSA), play-off winner

Group E: Beijing (CHN), Chiangrai United (THA), play-off winner, play-off winner

Group F: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR), Shanghai Shenhua (CHN), Perth Glory (AUS), play-off winner

Group G: Japan 2nd Club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS)

Group H: Sydney FC (AUS), Yokohama Marinos (JPN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), play-off winner



Arsenal Rout of PSV a Confidence Boost, Says Boss Arteta 

Arsenal FC coach Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions league round of 16 first leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
Arsenal FC coach Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions league round of 16 first leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
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Arsenal Rout of PSV a Confidence Boost, Says Boss Arteta 

Arsenal FC coach Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions league round of 16 first leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
Arsenal FC coach Mikel Arteta gestures during the UEFA Champions league round of 16 first leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 04 March 2025. (EPA)

Arsenal will derive a great deal of confidence from their 7-1 mauling of PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie and the Premier League club are determined to keep the momentum rolling, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Arsenal registered their biggest away win in European club competition on Tuesday, putting themselves in a virtually unassailable position to advance to the quarter-finals where they will meet either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid.

The North London side, who had failed to score in their last two league matches, had arrived in Eindhoven with their Premier League title hopes hanging by a thread after falling 13 points behind leaders Liverpool.

"It obviously gives us a lot of joy, confidence and belief, and then in football, it's not what we did three days ago, or today, it's about what we're going to do tomorrow, or at Old Trafford, how we behave and able to win again," Arteta told reporters.

"Enjoy tonight because it was a very impressive performance, an unbelievable score, so we deserve that, and now take that, and keep improving as a team.

"It's something that hasn't been done so it's great to be a part of that (on achieving their biggest away win in the Champions League), but as a team we want to achieve many other things that are far more important than that."

Arteta also backed Ethan Nwaneri to maintain his performance levels after the 17-year-old winger once again impressed with a fine display and scored Arsenal's second goal.

"I don't think that he needs any pushing! You see him every time he has the ball what the intention is, so if he comes, he comes, and it's great and really impressive again the way he behaved, the way he played tonight," Arteta added.

Arsenal next take a trip to 14th-placed Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.