Saudi and Qatari champions to renew rivalry in 2011 AFC Champions League
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Saudi giants Al Hilal and Qatar Stars League winners Al Gharafa were drawn together in Group A of the 2011 AFC Champions League, setting up a repeat of their historic two-legged quarter-final in September which Hilal won 5-4 on aggregate.
The two reigning domestic champions were drawn with 2009-10 Iran Pro League winners Sepahan and UAE league runners-up Al Jazira in one of the toughest of the eight groups.
Saudi legend Sami Al Jaber, Hilal's Team Manager, believes the home and away encounters between Hilal and Gharafa will be among the highlights of the 32-team group stage, which kicks off on March 1, 2011.
"The draw was a big surprise, but it has made it very interesting for both teams and their fans. The matches between Hilal and Gharafa could be the most interesting in the group stage," Al Jaber said after the group-stage draw, which was held at Hilton Petaling Jaya hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
"Both teams have the potential to go on and be champions and definitely one will go to the round of 16. Each team has so many great players. Hilal have a great new coach in Gabriel Calderon, who led Al Ittihad to the final in 2009 and Saudi Arabia to the 2006 World Cup, so we're confident of doing well again."
Current Iranian league leaders Zobahan, who beat Hilal to reach last month's AFC Champions League final, will face Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia, Al Rayyan of Qatar and Emirates of the UAE in Group D.
"It's not the most difficult group, it's not the most easy," said Amir Rikhtehgaran, Zobahan's Competition Officer and International Relations Manager.
"We know Al Shabab well, especially as they reached the semi-finals this year, but we don't know so much about Rayyan and Emirates. However, our form is good, so we certainly expect to do well again."
Jeddah giants Al Ittihad, winners in 2004 and 2005 and runners-up in 2009, were drawn with Uzbek champions Bunyodkor in the group stage for the second straight year. UAE champions Al Wahda, who play in this month's FIFA Club World Cup, and Tehran reds Piroozi round out Group C.
Group B features Tehran blues Esteghlal, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia and the winners of the west-zone playoffs.
In the east, J.League champions Nagoya Grampus and K-League champions FC Seoul were drawn in Group F along with first-timers Hangzhou Greentown of China and the winners of the east-zone playoffs.
Jeju United, who lost to FC Seoul in the final of the K-League playoffs, make their AFC Champions League debut in Group E against 2008 winners Gamba Osaka of Japan, two-time Australian champions Melbourne Victory and Tianjin Teda of China.
"Overall, it's a pretty good draw for us," said Michael Kim, Jeju's assistant coach. "We led the K-League for the majority of the year, so it's been a pretty special season for us. We know Gamba are strong, we've played Tianjin in friendly matches and we knew we'd have to make one long trip, so we're excited about Melbourne."
Shandong Luneng, who won their third Chinese Super League title in five years in October, face Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 winners and 2009 K-League champions, first-timers Cerezo Osaka of Japan and Indonesian champions Arema in Group G.
Suwon Bluewings, one of four K-League clubs to reach this year's quarter-finals, were drawn in Group H with A-League champions Sydney FC, Shanghai Shenhua of China and the winners of Japan's Emperor's Cup. The Emperor's Cup final will be held on January 1.
The last two group-stage spots are reserved for the winners of the east and west playoffs, which will be held on February 12 and 19.
Seongnam Ilhwa beat Zobahan 3-1 in last month's AFC Champions League final but will not defend their title after failing to reach the top three of the K-League playoffs.
AFC Champions League 2011 – Group Stage Draw
WEST
Group A – Al Hilal (KSA), Al Gharafa (QAT), Al Jazira (UAE), Sepahan (IRN)
Group B – Esteghlal (IRN), Al Nassr (KSA), Pakhtakor (UZB), Playoff Winners
Group C – Al Wahda (UAE), Piroozi (IRN), Al Ittihad (KSA), Bunyodkor (UZB)
Group D – Al Rayyan (QAT), Emirates (UAE), Zobahan (IRN), Al Shabab (KSA)
West Playoffs
12/02/2011 Al Sadd (QAT) v Al Ittihad (SYR)
19/02/2011 Al Sadd/Al Ittihad v Dempo (IND)
EAST
Group E – Jeju United (KOR), Melbourne Victory (AUS), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Group F – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN), FC Seoul (KOR), Playoff Winners, Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
Group G – Cerezo Osaka (JPN), Shandong Luneng (CHN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Arema Indonesia (IDN)
Group H – Sydney FC (AUS), Emperor's Cup winners (JPN), Shanghai Shenhua (CHN), Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
