2019 AFC Champions League explained

Tourney Name:AFC Champions League
Year:2019
Dates:Qualifying:
5–19 February 2019
Competition proper:
Num Teams:Competition proper: 32
Total: 51
Associations:22
Champion Other: Al-Hilal
Count:3
Second Other: Urawa Red Diamonds
Matches:126
Goals:354
Top Scorer: Bafétimbi Gomis
Player: Bafétimbi Gomis
Fair Play: Urawa Red Diamonds
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2020

The 2019 AFC Champions League was the 38th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 17th under the current AFC Champions League title.[1]

Al-Hilal defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 3–0 on aggregate in the final to earn a record third Champions League title. As winners, they qualified for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.

Kashima Antlers were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Guangzhou Evergrande in the quarter-finals on away goals.

Association team allocation

The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the associate member Northern Mariana Islands) were ranked, based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2017 AFC rankings (Entry Manual Article 2.3):[2]

Association ranking

For the 2019 AFC Champions League, the associations were allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 15 December 2017,[3] which took into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's FIFA World Rankings, between 2014 and 2017.[2] [4]

bgcolor=#f7f8ff colspan=2Participation for 2019 AFC Champions League
bgcolor=#90ee77 width=20Participating
bgcolor=#ffcccc width=20Not participating
+West Region
RankMember
Association		PointsSlots
Group
stage		Play-off
1195.9403100
2484.2693100
3682.4072200
4771.8512020
5943.3051020
61142.1411010
71230.7250010
81529.2910010
91628.9830000
101825.6490001
111924.7980001
122024.3370000
Total12472
13
25
+East Region
RankMember
Association		PointsSlots
Group
stage		Play-off
1287.4803100
2386.6713100
3583.4642200
4864.7522010
51042.5681020
61329.5661010
71429.3000010
81727.4260010
92121.4050001
102317.0840001
112416.8710001
122514.7530001
Total12464
14
26
Notes

Teams

The following 51 teams from 22 associations entered the competition.

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. TH means title holders.

+Group stage direct entrants (Groups A–D)
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Al-Ain2017–18 UAE Pro-League champions and 2017–18 UAE President's Cup winners14th
Al-Wahda2017–18 UAE Pro-League runners-up10th
Al-Wasl2017–18 UAE Pro-League 3rd place3rd
Al-Hilal2017–18 Saudi Professional League champions15th
Al-Ittihad2018 King Cup winners11th
Al-Ahli2017–18 Saudi Professional League runners-up11th
Al-Duhail2017–18 Qatar Stars League champions and 2018 Emir of Qatar Cup winners8th
Al-Sadd2017–18 Qatar Stars League runners-up14th
Persepolis2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League champions and 2018 Iranian Super Cup winners 8th
Esteghlal2017–18 Hazfi Cup winners
2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place		10th
Lokomotiv Tashkent2018 Uzbekistan Super League champions7th
Al-Zawraa2017–18 Iraqi Premier League champions4th
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Al-Nasr2017–18 UAE Pro-League 4th place4th
Al-Nassr2017–18 Saudi Professional League 3rd place4th
Al-Rayyan2017–18 Qatar Stars League 3rd place9th
Al-Gharafa2017–18 Qatar Stars League 4th place10th
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 2
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Zob Ahan2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up8th
Saipa2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League 4th place2nd
AGMK2018 Uzbekistan Cup winners1st
Pakhtakor2018 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up15th
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya2017–18 Iraqi Premier League runners-up4th
Istiklol2018 Tajik League champions1st
Minerva Punjab2017–18 I-League champions1st
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 1
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Al-Wehdat2017–18 Jordanian Pro League champions5th
Al-Kuwait2017–18 Kuwaiti Premier League champions6th
+Group stage direct entrants (Groups E–H)
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2018 K League 1 champions12th
Daegu FC2018 Korean FA Cup winners1st
Gyeongnam FC2018 K League 1 runners-up1st
Shanghai SIPG2018 Chinese Super League champions4th
Beijing FC2018 Chinese FA Cup winners8th
Guangzhou Evergrande2018 Chinese Super League runners-up8th
Kawasaki Frontale2018 J1 League champions7th
Urawa Red Diamonds2018 Emperor's Cup winners7th
Sydney FC2017–18 A-League premiers5th
Melbourne Victory2018 A-League Grand Final winners7th
Buriram United2018 Thai League 1 champions8th
Johor Darul Ta'zim2018 Malaysia Super League champions5th
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Ulsan Hyundai2018 K League 1 3rd place7th
Shandong Luneng2018 Chinese Super League 3rd place9th
Sanfrecce Hiroshima2018 J1 League runners-up5th
Kashima AntlersTH2018 J1 League 3rd place9th
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 2
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Newcastle Jets2017–18 A-League regular season runners-up2nd
Chiangrai United2018 Thai FA Cup winners2nd
Bangkok United2018 Thai League 1 runners-up 3rd
Perak2018 Malaysia Super League runners-up1st
Kitchee2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League champions5th
Hanoi2018 V.League 1 champions5th
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 1
width=25%Teamwidth=60%Qualifying methodwidth=15%App
Ceres–Negros2018 Philippines Football League champions2nd
Home United2018 Singapore Premier League runners-up2nd
Persija Jakarta2018 Liga 1 champions1st
Yangon United2018 Myanmar National League champions2nd
Notes

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[5]

StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond leg
Preliminary stagePreliminary round 1No draw5 February 2019
Preliminary round 212 February 2019
Play-off stagePlay-off round19 February 2019
Group stageMatchday 122 November 20184–6 March 2019
Matchday 211–13 March 2019
Matchday 38–10 April 2019
Matchday 422–24 April 2019
Matchday 56–8 May 2019
Matchday 620–22 May 2019
Knockout stageRound of 1618–19 June 2019 (E), 5–6 August 2019 (W)25–26 June 2019 (E), 12–13 August 2019 (W)
Quarter-finals2 July 201926–28 August 201916–18 September 2019
Semi-finals1–2 October 201922–23 October 2019
Final9 November 201924 November 2019

Qualifying play-offs

See main article: 2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs.

Play-off round

Group stage

See main article: 2019 AFC Champions League group stage.

Group H

Knockout stage

See main article: 2019 AFC Champions League knockout stage.

Final

Awards

Main awards

AwardPlayerTeam
Most Valuable Player[6] Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal
Top Goalscorer Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal
Fair Play Award— Urawa Red Diamonds
Best Goal[7] Shojae Khalilzadeh Persepolis

All-Star Squad

Source:[8]

PositionPlayerTeam
Goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa Urawa Red Diamonds
Abdullah Al-Mayouf Al-Hilal
align=center rowspan=5Defenders Takahiro Sekine Urawa Red Diamonds
Tomoaki Makino Urawa Red Diamonds
Mohammed Al-Breik Al-Hilal
Park Ji-soo Guangzhou Evergrande
Daisuke Suzuki Urawa Red Diamonds
align=center rowspan=9Midfielders Akram Afif Al-Sadd
Léo Silva Kashima Antlers
Talisca Guangzhou Evergrande
Oscar Shanghai SIPG
Nam Tae-hee Al-Duhail
Salman Al-Faraj Al-Hilal
Sebastian Giovinco Al-Hilal
Gabi Al-Sadd
Paulinho Guangzhou Evergrande
align=center rowspan=7Forwards Romarinho Al-Ittihad
Shinzo Koroki Urawa Red Diamonds
Hulk Shanghai SIPG
André Carrillo Al-Hilal
Giuliano de Paula Al-Nassr
Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal
Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal

Opta Best XI

Source:[9]

PositionPlayerTeam
Goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa Urawa Red Diamonds
align=center rowspan=4Defenders Yasser Al-Shahrani Al-Hilal
Park Ji-soo Guangzhou Evergrande
Ali Al-Bulaihi Al-Hilal
Daiki Hashioka Urawa Red Diamonds
align=center rowspan=3Midfielders Oscar Shanghai SIPG
Giuliano Al-Nassr
Leonardo Al-Wahda
align=center rowspan=3Forwards Shinzo Koroki Urawa Red Diamonds
Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal
Omar Al Somah Al-Ahli

Fans' Best XI

Source:[9]

PositionPlayerTeam
Goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf Al-Hilal
align=center rowspan=4Defenders Yasser Al-Shahrani Al-Hilal
Tarek Salman Al-Sadd
Ali Al-Bulaihi Al-Hilal
Mohammed Barqesh Al-Wahda
align=center rowspan=3Midfielders Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal
Giuliano Al-Nassr
Leonardo Al-Wahda
align=center rowspan=3Forwards Sebastian Giovinco Al-Hilal
Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal
Omar Al Somah Al-Ahli

Top scorers

RankPlayerTeamTotal
1 Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal112321111
2 Leonardo Al-Wahda214119
3 Shinzo Koroki Urawa Red Diamonds11121118
4 Omar Al Somah Al-Ahli221117
5 Alaa Abbas Al-Zawraa21126
Giuliano Al-Nassr11121
Hulk Shanghai SIPG1212
Graziano Pellè Shandong Luneng2211
9 Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov Lokomotiv Tashkent11125
Akram Afif Al-Sadd11111
Romarinho Al-Ittihad1112
Talisca Guangzhou Evergrande1121

Player of the week awards

MatchdayToyota Player of the Week
PlayerTeamRef.
Group stage
Matchday 1 Cesinha Daegu FC[10]
Matchday 2 Alaa Abbas Al-Zawraa[11]
Matchday 3 Talisca Guangzhou Evergrande[12]
Matchday 4 Leonardo Al-Wahda[13]
Matchday 5 Hulk Shanghai SIPG[14]
Matchday 6 Yasuto Wakizaka Kawasaki Frontale[15]
Knockout stage
Round of 16 1st leg – East Kenyu Sugimoto Urawa Red Diamonds[16]
Round of 16 2nd leg – East Shoma Doi Kashima Antlers[17]
Round of 16 1st leg – West Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal[18]
Round of 16 2nd leg – West Romarinho Al-Ittihad[19]
Quarter-finals 1st leg Giuliano Al-Nassr[20]
Quarter-finals 2nd leg Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal[21]
Semi-finals 1st leg Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal[22]
Semi-finals 2nd leg Shusaku Nishikawa Urawa Red Diamonds[23]
Final 1st leg Mohammed Al-Breik Al-Hilal[24]
Final 2nd leg Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal[25]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations. Asian Football Confederation. PDF.
  2. Web site: Entry Manual: AFC Club Competitions 2017–2020. Asian Football Confederation. PDF.
  3. Web site: AFC Club Competitions Ranking (as of 15 December 2017). Asian Football Confederation. PDF.
  4. Web site: AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics (2017 version). Asian Football Confederation. PDF.
  5. Web site: AFC Competitions Calendar 2019. Asian Football Confederation. 28 November 2017.
  6. News: Al Hilal's Gomis wins MVP, Top Scorer awards. Asian Football Confederation. 24 November 2019. 24 November 2019.
  7. News: Khalilzadeh voted best goal of AFC Champions League 2019. Asian Football Confederation. 9 December 2019. 30 October 2020.
  8. Web site: AFC Champions League 2019 Technical Report & Statistics . AFC . 2022-05-13.
  9. News: The Best ACL2019 XI announced!. Asian Football Confederation. 13 September 2020. 30 October 2020.
  10. Web site: ACL2019 MD1 Toyota Player of the Week: Cesinha (Daegu FC). Asian Football Confederation. 8 March 2019.
  11. Web site: ACL2019 MD2 Toyota Player of the Week: Alaa Abbas (Al Zawraa). Asian Football Confederation. 15 March 2019.
  12. Web site: ACL2019 MD3 Toyota Player of the Week: Anderson Talisca. Asian Football Confederation. 12 April 2019.
  13. Web site: ACL2019 MD4 Toyota Player of the Week: Leonardo. Asian Football Confederation. 26 April 2019.
  14. Web site: ACL2019 MD5 Toyota Player of the Week: Hulk. Asian Football Confederation. 10 May 2019.
  15. Web site: ACL2019 MD6 Toyota Player of the Week: Yasuto Wakizaka. Asian Football Confederation. 24 May 2019.
  16. Web site: ACL2019 Round of 16, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Kenyu Sugimoto. Asian Football Confederation. 21 June 2019.
  17. Web site: ACL2019 Round of 16, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Shoma Doi. Asian Football Confederation. 28 June 2019.
  18. Web site: ACL 2019 Round of 16 First Leg – West: Toyota Player of the Week. Asian Football Confederation. 9 August 2019.
  19. Web site: ACL 2019 Round of 16 Second Leg – West: Toyota Player of the Week. Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2019.
  20. Web site: ACL 2019 QF First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Giuliano. Asian Football Confederation. 30 August 2019.
  21. Web site: ACL 2019 QF Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Salem Al Dawsari . Asian Football Confederation. 20 September 2019.
  22. Web site: ACL 2019 SF First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Bafetimbi Gomis . Asian Football Confederation. 4 October 2019.
  23. Web site: ACL 2019 SF Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Shusaku Nishikawa . Asian Football Confederation. 25 October 2019.
  24. Web site: 2019 Final, 1st Leg – Toyota Player of the Week: Mohammed Al Burayk . Asian Football Confederation . 11 November 2019.
  25. Web site: 2019 Final, 2nd Leg – Toyota Player of the Week: Salem Al Dawsari . Asian Football Confederation . 26 November 2019.

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