2022 AFC Champions League group stage
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The 2022 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 15 April to 1 May 2022 for the East Region and from 7 to 27 April 2022 for the West Region.[1] A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League.[2]
Draw[edit]
The draw for the group stage was held on 17 January 2022 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four: five groups each in the West Region (Groups A–E) and the East Region (Groups F–J). For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association, in consideration of the technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
The following 40 teams entered into the group stage draw, which included the 33 direct entrants and the seven winners of the play-off round of the qualifying play-offs, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.
| Region | Groups | Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Region | A–E |  Al-Sadd |  Al-Faisaly |  Pakhtakor |  Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya[note 1] |
| Al-Hilal |  Sepahan |  Al-Wehdat | Al-Taawoun (Winners of Play-off West 1) | ||
| Foolad |  Shabab Al-Ahli |  Mumbai City | Nasaf Qarshi (Winners of Play-off West 2) | ||
| Al-Jazira | Al-Rayyan |  Istiklol | Sharjah (Winners of Play-off West 3) | ||
| Al-Duhail | Al-Shabab |  Ahal | Al-Gharafa[note 2] | ||
| East Region | F–J |  Shandong Taishan |  Urawa Red Diamonds |  United City |  Melbourne City[note 1] |
| Kawasaki Frontale |  Jeonnam Dragons |  Kitchee[note 3] | Sydney FC (Winners of Play-off East 1) | ||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |  Chiangrai United |  Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | Vissel Kobe (Winners of Play-off East 2) | ||
| BG Pathum United | Guangzhou |  Johor Darul Ta'zim | Ulsan Hyundai (Winners of Play-off East 3) | ||
| Shanghai Port | Yokohama F. Marinos |  Lion City Sailors | Daegu FC (Winners of Play-off East 4) |
Format[edit]
In the group stage, each group was played in a double round-robin format in centralised venues. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
Tiebreakers[edit]
The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3):[2]
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;(not applicable since the matches were played in a centralised venue)- If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
- Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
- Association ranking.
Schedule[edit]
The schedule for each match day was as follows.[4]
| Match day | West Region | East Region |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7–8 April | 15–16 April |
| 2 | 10–11 April | 18–19 April |
| 3 | 14–15 April | 21–22 April |
| 4 | 18–19 April | 24–25 April |
| 5 | 22–23 April | 27–28 April |
| 6 | 26–27 April | 30 April – 1 May |
Centralised venues[edit]
On 16 February 2022, AFC confirmed hosts for the East group stage.[5] On 3 March 2022, AFC confirmed hosts for the West group stage.[6]
- Groups A and B: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Group C: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Group D: Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
- Group E: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- Groups F and J: Buriram, Thailand
- Group G: Bangkok, Thailand
- Group H: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Group I: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Groups[edit]
Group A[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | HIL | RYN | SHJ | IST | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal (H) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 13[a] | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Al-Rayyan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 13[a] | 0–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Sharjah | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | Istiklol | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 3 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — |
| Istiklol | 2–3 | Al-Rayyan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Sharjah | 2–1 | Istiklol |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Istiklol | 0–3 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Sharjah | 2–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Hilal | 0–2 | Al-Rayyan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Group B[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SHB | MUM | QWJ | AJZ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Shabab (H) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | +17 | 16 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 6–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Mumbai City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 7[a] | 0–3 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | ||
| 3 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 7[a] | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 3–2 | ||
| 4 | Al-Jazira | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 4 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | — |
| Al-Jazira | 1–2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
Al-Ameri  43' | Report |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 1–2 | Mumbai City |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmed 59' | Report |
| Al-Jazira | 1–0 | Mumbai City |
|---|---|---|
| Mabkhout 40' (pen.) | Report |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 1–1 | Al-Shabab |
|---|---|---|
| Miller 68' | Report | Al-Qahtani 90+6' |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 3–2 | Al-Jazira |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Mumbai City | 1–0 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Group C[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FOO | SAH | GHA | AHA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foolad | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Shabab Al-Ahli | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 10 | 1–1 | — | 8–2 | 2–1 | ||
| 3 | Al-Gharafa | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 5 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 4 | Ahal | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — |
| Foolad | 0–0 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Shabab Al-Ahli | 1–1 | Foolad |
|---|---|---|
| Cartabia 90+1' | Report | Nourollahi 83' (o.g.) |
| Al-Gharafa | 2–0 | Ahal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Al-Gharafa | 1–1 | Shabab Al-Ahli |
|---|---|---|
| Hanni 44' | Report | Cartabia 90+1' |
| Shabab Al-Ahli | 2–1 | Ahal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Al-Gharafa | 0–1 | Foolad |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Foolad | 1–1 | Shabab Al-Ahli |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Ahal | 4–2 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Group D[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DUH | TWN | SEP | PAK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Duhail | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 15 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–2 | 5–2 | 3–2 | |
| 2 | Al-Taawoun (H) | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 7[a] | 3–4 | — | 3–0 | 0–1 | ||
| 3 | Sepahan | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 7[a] | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | Pakhtakor | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 6 | 0–3 | 5–4 | 1–3 | — |
| Al-Duhail | 1–2 | Al-Taawoun |
|---|---|---|
| Edmilson 7' | Report |
| Al-Taawoun | 0–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Taawoun | 3–0 | Sepahan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Pakhtakor | 0–3 | Al-Duhail |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Attendance: 82
Referee: Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob (Malaysia)
| Sepahan | 1–1 | Al-Taawoun |
|---|---|---|
| Moghanlou 65' | Report | Al-Nabit 47' |
| Sepahan | 2–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Duhail | 5–2 | Sepahan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Pakhtakor | 5–4 | Al-Taawoun |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Group E[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FAI | NAS | SAD | WEH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Faisaly (H) | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 9[a] | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| 2 | Nasaf Qarshi | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9[a] | 0–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Al-Sadd | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 7 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 5–2 | ||
| 4 | Al-Wehdat | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 6 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |
| Al-Wehdat | 1–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Samir 50' | Report | Faik 12' |
| Nasaf Qarshi | 2–0 | Al-Wehdat |
|---|---|---|
| Stanojević 71', 85' (pen.) | Report |
| Al-Faisaly | 2–1 | Al-Sadd |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Al-Haydos 4' |
| Nasaf Qarshi | 0–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Tavares 29' |
| Nasaf Qarshi | 3–1 | Al-Sadd |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Tabata 90+1' |
| Al-Faisaly | 1–1 | Al-Wehdat |
|---|---|---|
| Boyle 90+3' | Report | Sariweh 90+1' |
| Al-Wehdat | 2–2 | Nasaf Qarshi |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Al-Sadd | 1–0 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Group F[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DAE | URA | LCS | SDT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daegu FC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 13[a] | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–0 | 0–3 | 4–0 | |
| 2 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 2 | +18 | 13[a] | 0–0 | — | 6–0 | 5–0 | ||
| 3 | Lion City Sailors | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 7 | 1–2 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | ||
| 4 | Shandong Taishan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 24 | −22 | 1 | 0–7 | 0–5 | 0–0 | — |
| Shandong Taishan | 0–7 | Daegu FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Lion City Sailors | 1–4 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
| Karlsson 43' (o.g.) | Report |
| Daegu FC | 0–3 | Lion City Sailors |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Daegu FC | 1–0 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Lion City Sailors | 3–2 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Daegu FC | 4–0 | Shandong Taishan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Lion City Sailors | 1–2 | Daegu FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Group G[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BGP | MCY | JND | UCT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BG Pathum United (H) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 5–0 | |
| 2 | Melbourne City | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 12 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 3 | Jeonnam Dragons | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 4 | United City | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 17 | −16 | 0 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–1 | — |
| BG Pathum United | 1–1 | Melbourne City |
|---|---|---|
| Teerasil 35' | Report | Nabbout 22' |
| United City | 0–1 | Jeonnam Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Pllana 87' |
| Melbourne City | 3–0 | United City |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Jeonnam Dragons | 1–1 | Melbourne City |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| United City | 1–3 | BG Pathum United |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2–0 | United City |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| BG Pathum United | 0–0 |
|---|