Ronaldo and Neymar Set for AFC Showdowns in Qatar

Global Football Stars to Battle Qatari Clubs in Exciting AFC Champions League Elite

Publish date: Sunday، 18 August 2024

Ronaldo and Neymar Set for AFC Showdowns in Qatar

Football fans in Qatar are in for a treat as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. are set to grace the pitch in the AFC Champions League Elite’s revamped group stage.

The draw, held on August 16, has pitted Qatar’s top clubs—Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, and Al Gharafa—against the likes of Saudi giants Al Nassr and Al Hilal, promising thrilling matches for the 2024/25 season.

Al Sadd, the reigning Qatari league champions, and Al Rayyan, the league runners-up, have both secured direct entry into the group stage. They’ll be joined by Al Gharafa, who clinched their spot by defeating UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli in a tense playoff.

The action kicks off on September 17, with Al Rayyan set to host Neymar’s Al Hilal at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. November will be a particularly intense month, as both Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Neymar’s Al Hilal head to Qatar. On November 25, Al Gharafa will face Al Nassr, followed by a highly anticipated showdown between Al Sadd and Al Hilal on November 26 at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

In addition to these marquee matchups, Al Sadd and Al Rayyan will have the advantage of playing on home turf against formidable opponents from Iran, such as Persepolis and Esteghlal. Both Qatari powerhouses will also face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and Al Hilal, with away games in Saudi Arabia adding to the challenge.

Al Gharafa faces a daunting group with matches against defending champions Al Ain (UAE), Al Wasl (UAE), and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor, alongside their clash with Al Nassr. The path to glory will be anything but easy for the Qatari side.

Meanwhile, in the second-tier Champions League Two, Al Wakrah will compete against Iran’s Tractor, Tajikistan’s Ravshan Kulob, and India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giants, with both home and away fixtures.

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Ronaldo and Neymar Set for AFC Showdowns in Qatar

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