Al Nassr Ranked Above Al Hilal Ahead of AFC Champions League Elite Draw
Al Nassr have been handed a higher seeding than Saudi rivals Al Hilal ahead of the AFC Champions League Elite league-stage draw, despite returning to the competition after missing last season.
The AFC Champions League Elite draw is scheduled to take place next Tuesday at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ahead of the draw, the AFC has confirmed the seeding pots and competition pathways for the 32 clubs that will compete in the league phase.
The tournament will be divided into two regional sections, with 16 clubs competing in the West and another 16 in the East.
Al Nassr placed in Pot 2
Al Nassr have been assigned to Pot 2 for the Western section alongside Uzbekistan’s Neftchi, Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.
Their Pot 2 placement gives the Saudi Pro League club a higher seeding than Al Hilal, who have been placed in Pot 3.
Al Nassr are returning to the continent’s top club competition after missing last season’s edition.
The seeding has therefore created an interesting situation between the two Riyadh giants, with Al Nassr ranked above Al Hilal despite their rivals’ impressive history in the competition.
Al Hilal placed in Pot 3
Al Hilal, one of the most successful clubs in AFC Champions League history, have been placed in Pot 3.
They will share the pot with Qatar’s Al Gharafa, Iran’s Tractor and UAE club Al Wasl.
Two other Saudi clubs have also been seeded above Al Hilal.
Al Ahli have been placed in Pot 1 alongside Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar’s Al Sadd and Iran’s Esteghlal.
Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah, meanwhile, have been placed in Pot 4 alongside Qatar’s Al Shamal and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
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How the AFC Champions League Elite draw works
Each club will play eight league-phase matches, facing teams drawn from the four different seeding pots.
Clubs from the same country will not be allowed to face each other during the league phase.
At the conclusion of the league stage, the top eight teams from the Western region will qualify for the round of 16.
The draw will determine the opening schedules for all 16 clubs competing in the Western section.
Al Nassr and Al Hilal set for contrasting starts
The final seeding has given Al Nassr and Al Hilal contrasting starting positions ahead of the new AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
For Al Nassr, their Pot 2 position represents a strong starting point as they return to Asian football’s elite club competition.
For Al Hilal, meanwhile, the Pot 3 placement comes despite their status as one of the competition’s most decorated clubs.
The Kuala Lumpur draw will reveal the opponents both Riyadh clubs must face as they begin their respective campaigns for continental success.
With four Saudi clubs involved in the Western section, the draw could also produce several challenging fixtures as the teams compete for places in the knockout stage.
