2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage
Asia premier club football tournament
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The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage was played from 16 September 2024 to 19 February 2025.[1]
This was the first season with a single-league format for each region, which replaced the group format used until the previous season. A total of 12 national associations were represented in the league stage.
Gwangju FC made their debut appearances in the Champions League since the introduction of the group stage. This also marked Gwangju's debut appearances in Asian football. Gwangju's Jasir Asani was the first-ever goalscorer of the competition's league stage.
Draw
The draw for the league stage took place on 16 August at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2]
Seeding
For each region, the title holder or the highest seeded team from each member association involved were allocated into Pot 1, while the remaining teams were allocated into Pot 2.[3]
| Region | Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
|---|---|---|
| West Region | ||
| East Region |
|
|
Grid result
Each team was drawn a position in the draw grid for their region: column A–C for West and D–F for East. Teams from Pot 1 were drawn into positions 1 or 2 while teams from Pot 2 were drawn into positions 3 or 4.
Each position had pre-determined matchups as part of a pairings grid. Teams in each column played matches with the other columns in each region.[3]
| Column | A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | West Region | East Region | |||||
| 1 |  Pakhtakor |
 Al-Sadd |
 Persepolis |
 Ulsan HD |
 Shanghai Port |
 Johor Darul Ta'zim | |
| 2 |  Al-Hilal |
 Al-Shorta |
 Al Ain |
 Central Coast Mariners |
 Buriram United |
 Vissel Kobe | |
| 3 | Al-Nassr |
Al-Rayyan |
Esteghlal |
Pohang Steelers |
Shandong Taishan |
Yokohama F. Marinos | |
| 4 | Al-Ahli |
Al-Gharafa |
Al Wasl |
Gwangju FC |
Shanghai Shenhua |
Kawasaki Frontale | |
Schedule
The schedule of the league stage was as follows.[4]
| Round | Dates (West region) | Dates (East region) |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 16–17 September 2024 | 17–18 September 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 30 September–1 October 2024 | 1–2 October 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 21–22 October 2024 | 22–23 October 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 4–5 November 2024 | 5–6 November 2024 |
| Matchday 5 | 25–26 November 2024 | 26–27 November 2024 |
| Matchday 6 | 2–3 December 2024 | 3–4 December 2024 |
| Matchday 7 | 3–4 February 2025 | 11–12 February 2025 |
| Matchday 8 | 17–18 February 2025 | 18–19 February 2025 |
League stage
The detailed schedule was announced on 16 August 2024 after the draw ceremony.[5][6][2]
West Region
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 7 | +19 | 22 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Al-Ahli |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 8 | +13 | 22 | |
| 3 | Al-Nassr |
8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 17 | |
| 4 | Al-Sadd |
8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 12 | |
| 5 | Al Wasl |
8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 11 | |
| 6 | Esteghlal |
8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 9 | |
| 7 | Al-Rayyan |
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 8 | |
| 8 | Pakhtakor |
8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 7 | |
| 9 | Persepolis |
8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 7 | |
| 10 | Al-Gharafa |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 7 | |
| 11 | Al-Shorta |
8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 17 | −10 | 6 | |
| 12 | Al Ain |
8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 2 |
Source: Asian Football Confederation
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Results summary
Matches
Matchday 1
| Al Ain | 1–1 | Al-Sadd |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Shorta | 1–1 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Ahli | 1–0 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 15,170
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
| Al-Rayyan | 1–3 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 2
| Persepolis | 1–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Hilal | 5–0 | Al-Shorta |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 3
| Al-Sadd | 1–0 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al Ain | 4–5 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 4][7]
Attendance: 7,600
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Matchday 4
| Persepolis | 1–1 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 4]
Attendance: 3,941
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Matchday 5
| Al-Rayyan | 1–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Sadd | 1–1 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 6
| Persepolis | 2–1 | Al-Shorta |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Al-Hilal | 3–0 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 7
Attendance: 9,335
Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
| Al-Gharafa | 1–0 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Al-Hilal | 4–1 | Persepolis |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 8
| Persepolis | 0–0 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Attendance: 12,860
Referee: Omar Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Al Wasl | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
East Region
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 18 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 2 | Kawasaki Frontale |
7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 15 | |
| 3 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 14 | |
| 4 | Gwangju |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 14 | |
| 5 | Vissel Kobe |
7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 13 | |
| 6 | Buriram United |
8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 12 | |
| 7 | Shanghai Shenhua |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | |
| 8 | Shanghai Port |
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 8 | |
| 9 | Pohang Steelers |
7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 6 | |
| 10 | Ulsan HD |
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 3 | |
| 11 | Central Coast Mariners |
7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 1 | |
| 12 | Shandong Taishan |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrawn, record expunged[a] |
Source: Asian Football Confederation
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) penalty shoot-out if only two teams remain tied and played each other on the final matchday 6) fair play ranking; 7) drawing of lots
Notes:
- Shandong Taishan were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Elite after the club confirmed that it did not intend to report for their league stage match against Ulsan HD on 19 February 2025.[8] Their remaining fixture was cancelled, with their seven played matches being expunged.[9]
Results summary
Matches
Matchday 1
| Gwangju FC | 7–3 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (3–1) | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shanghai Shenhua | 4–1 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 9,673
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Shanghai Port | 2–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 2
| Central Coast Mariners | 1–2 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Pohang Steelers | 3–0 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 3–0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Attendance: 31,386
Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
| Vissel Kobe | Voided (2–1) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 4–0 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 3
| Gwangju FC | 3–1 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shanghai Port | 3–2 | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (2–2) | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 24,796
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Ulsan HD | 0–2 | Vissel Kobe |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2–0 | Kawasaki Frontale |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 4
| Central Coast Mariners | 2–2 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Kawasaki Frontale | 3–1 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 3–0 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Pohang Steelers | Voided (4–2) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 5–0 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 5
| Vissel Kobe | 3–2 | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Attendance: 6,009
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
| Ulsan HD | 1–3 | Shanghai Port |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (1–0) | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Gwangju FC | 1–0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 2–0 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Matchday 6
| Central Coast Mariners | 0–4 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Pohang Steelers | 3–1 | Vissel Kobe |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shanghai Port | 1–1 | Gwangju FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Kawasaki Frontale | Voided (4–0) | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 1–2 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Matchday 7
| Central Coast Mariners | 1–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Shandong Taishan | Voided (3–1) | Gwangju FC |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 32,867
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoaish (Saudi Arabia)
| Buriram United | 2–1 | Ulsan HD |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Matchday 8
| Gwangju FC | 2–2 | Buriram United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 4–2 | Vissel Kobe |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 5–2 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Notes
- Al-Shorta played their home matches at Al-Madina International Stadium and Al-Zawraa Stadium, Baghdad, and Karbala International Stadium, Karbala, instead of their regular home stadium Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad.
- Pakhtakor played their home matches at JAR Stadium, Tashkent, instead of their regular home stadium Pakhtakor Central Stadium, Tashkent.
- Al-Gharafa played their home matches at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, instead of their regular home stadium Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan.
- Iranian clubs were required to play their home matches at neutral venues due to security concerns relating to the October 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran.
- Gwangju FC played their home matches at Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, instead of their regular home stadium Gwangju World Cup Stadium or Gwangju Football Stadium, Gwangju.
- Ulsan HD played their home matches at Ulsan Stadium, Ulsan, instead of their regular home stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan.
- The match was cancelled when Shandong Taishan did not report for the match.[8]