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2018 AFC Champions League group stage

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The 2018 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 12 February to 18 April 2018.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.[2]

Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held on 6 December 2017, 16:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3][4] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H). Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.

The seeding of each team in the draw was determined by their association and their qualifying position within their association. The mechanism of the draw was as follows:

  • For the West Region, a draw was held for the three associations with three direct entrants (United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups A, B and C. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.
  • For the East Region, a draw was held for the two associations with three direct entrants (South Korea, Japan) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups E and F. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.

The following 32 teams entered into the group-stage draw, which included the 24 direct entrants and the eight winners of the play-off round of the qualifying play-offs, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.

Region Groups Seed 1 Seed 2 Seed 3 Seed 4
West Region A–D United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates Al-Ain (Play-off West 1)
Iran Persepolis Iran Esteghlal Iran Tractor Sazi Iran Zob Ahan (Play-off West 2)
Qatar Al-Duhail Qatar Al-Sadd Qatar Al-Rayyan Qatar Al-Gharafa (Play-off West 3)
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli[note 1] Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent[note 1] Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi (Play-off West 4)
East Region E–H South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea Ulsan Hyundai South Korea Jeju United South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Play-off East 1)
Japan Kawasaki Frontale Japan Cerezo Osaka[note 2] Japan Kashima Antlers Japan Kashiwa Reysol (Play-off East 2)
China Guangzhou Evergrande China Shanghai Shenhua China Tianjin Quanjian (Play-off East 4) China Shanghai SIPG (Play-off East 3)
Australia Sydney FC Hong Kong Kitchee[note 3] Australia Melbourne Victory Thailand Buriram United[note 3]

Format

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In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.

Tiebreakers

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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 10.5):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  5. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  9. 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);
  10. Team from the higher-ranked association.

Schedule

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The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1]

  • Matches in the West Region were played on Mondays and Tuesdays (two groups on each day).
  • Matches in the East Region were played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (two groups on each day).
Matchday Dates Matches
Matchday 1 12–14 February 2018 Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2
Matchday 2 19–21 February 2018 Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1
Matchday 3 5–7 March 2018 Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3
Matchday 4 12–14 March 2018 Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 5 2–4 April 2018 Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 6 16–18 April 2018 Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4

Neutral venues

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In light of the deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations since 2016, which caused matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia to be played on neutral venues in 2016 and 2017, and the Qatar diplomatic crisis since 2017, which led to travel bans imposed by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to Qatar, the AFC reiterated that matches should be played on a home-and-away basis as normal instead of on neutral venues, and would try to mediate the situation with the concerned associations (Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), such that a solution could be found regarding matches between teams from Iran/Qatar and Saudi Arabia/United Arab Emirates.[5][6][7][8] In the end, the same arrangements were made as of the previous season, where matches between Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues, while teams from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates must travel to Qatar to play away matches.[9][10]

Groups

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHL JAZ GHA TRA
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 6 4 2 0 9 4 +5 14 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 1–1 2–0
2 United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 6 2 2 2 9 9 0 8[a] 1–2 3–2 0–0
3 Qatar Al-Gharafa 6 2 2 2 12 9 +3 8[a] 1–1 2–3 3–0
4 Iran Tractor Sazi 6 0 2 4 2 10 −8 2 0–1 1–1 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head results: Al-Jazira 3–2 Al-Gharafa, Al-Gharafa 2–3 Al-Jazira.
Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates3–2Qatar Al-Gharafa
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Tractor Sazi Iran0–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Attendance: 1,253
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)

Al-Gharafa Qatar3–0Iran Tractor Sazi
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Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–1United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
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Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates0–0Iran Tractor Sazi
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Al-Gharafa Qatar1–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Tractor Sazi Iran1–1United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
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Attendance: 41,520
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia1–1Qatar Al-Gharafa
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Al-Gharafa Qatar2–3United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
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Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates1–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Tractor Sazi Iran1–3Qatar Al-Gharafa
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Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DUH ZOB LOK WAH
1 Qatar Al-Duhail 6 6 0 0 13 6 +7 18 Advance to knockout stage 3–1 3–2 1–0
2 Iran Zob Ahan 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7[a] 0–1 2–0 2–0
3 Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent 6 2 1 3 13 9 +4 7[a] 1–2 1–1 5–0
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 6 1 0 5 6 15 −9 3 2–3 3–0 1–4
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head results: Zob Ahan 2–0 Lokomotiv Tashkent, Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–1 Zob Ahan.
Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan5–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Attendance: 5,440
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
Al-Duhail Qatar3–1Iran Zob Ahan
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Zob Ahan Iran2–0Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Attendance: 1,764
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates2–3Qatar Al-Duhail
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Zob Ahan Iran2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Al-Duhail Qatar3–2Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan1–2Qatar Al-Duhail
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Attendance: 6,375
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates3–0Iran Zob Ahan
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Zob Ahan Iran0–1Qatar Al-Duhail
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Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates1–4Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Al-Duhail Qatar1–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan1–1Iran Zob Ahan
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Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PER SAD NSF WAS
1 Iran Persepolis 6 4 1 1 8 3 +5 13 Advance to knockout stage 1–0 3–0 2–0
2 Qatar Al-Sadd 6 4 0 2 11 5 +6 12 3–1 4–0 2–1
3 Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi 6 3 1 2 4 8 −4 10 0–0 1–0 1–0
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl 6 0 0 6 3 10 −7 0 0–1 1–2 1–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Persepolis Iran3–0Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
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Attendance: 25,830
Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates1–2Qatar Al-Sadd
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Attendance: 5,895

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan1–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Al-Sadd Qatar3–1Iran Persepolis
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Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan1–0Qatar Al-Sadd
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Attendance: 20,978
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Persepolis Iran2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Attendance: 33,170
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

Al-Sadd Qatar4–0Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
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Attendance: 4,133
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates0–1Iran Persepolis
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Attendance: 5,841
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan0–0Iran Persepolis
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Al-Sadd Qatar2–1United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Attendance: 5,169
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Persepolis Iran1–0Qatar Al-Sadd
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Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates1–2Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
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Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification EST AIN RAY HIL
1 Iran Esteghlal 6 3 3 0 9 5 +4 12 Advance to knockout stage 1–1 2–0 1–0
2 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 6 2 4 0 10 6 +4 10 2–2 1–1 2–1
3 Qatar Al-Rayyan 6 1 3 2 7 11 −4 6 2–2 1–4 2–1
4 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 6 0 2 4 3 7 −4 2 0–1 0–0 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Rayyan Qatar2–2Iran Esteghlal
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Thiam 6' Ali Ghorbani 88'
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia0–0United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Al-Ain United Arab Emirates1–1Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Esteghlal Iran1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Attendance: 4,175
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–2Iran Esteghlal
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Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia1–1Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Al-Rayyan Qatar2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Esteghlal Iran1–1United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Attendance: 90,000

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Attendance: 15,126
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Esteghlal Iran2–0Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Attendance: 37,221

Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia0–1Iran Esteghlal
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Al-Rayyan Qatar1–4United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Group E

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JEO TJQ KSW KIT
1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 5 0 1 22 9 +13 15 Advance to knockout stage 6–3 3–2 3–0
2 China Tianjin Quanjian 6 4 1 1 15 11 +4 13 4–2 3–2 3–0
3 Japan Kashiwa Reysol 6 1 1 4 6 10 −4 4 0–2 1–1 1–0
4 Hong Kong Kitchee 6 1 0 5 1 14 −13 3 0–6 0–1 1–0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea3–2Japan Kashiwa Reysol
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Tianjin Quanjian China3–0Hong Kong Kitchee
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Kashiwa Reysol Japan1–1China Tianjin Quanjian
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Attendance: 6,776
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Kitchee Hong Kong0–6South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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Attendance: 13,519

Kashiwa Reysol Japan1–0Hong Kong Kitchee
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Attendance: 5,541
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Kitchee Hong Kong1–0Japan Kashiwa Reysol
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Kitchee Hong Kong0–1China Tianjin Quanjian
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Group F

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SSI ULS MEL KAW
1 China Shanghai SIPG 6 3 2 1 10 6 +4 11 Advance to knockout stage 2–2 4–1 1–1
2 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 6 2 3 1 15 11 +4 9 0–1 6–2 2–1
3 Australia Melbourne Victory 6 2 2 2 11 16 −5 8 2–1 3–3 1–0
4 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 6 0 3 3 6 9 −3 3 0–1 2–2 2–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Melbourne Victory Australia3–3South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
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Kawasaki Frontale Japan0–1China Shanghai SIPG
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Shanghai SIPG China4–1Australia Melbourne Victory
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Attendance: 16,697
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

Kawasaki Frontale Japan2–2Australia Melbourne Victory
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Shanghai SIPG China2–2South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
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Ulsan Hyundai South Korea0–1China Shanghai SIPG
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Ulsan Hyundai South Korea6–2Australia Melbourne Victory
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Shanghai SIPG China1–1Japan Kawasaki Frontale
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Group G

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GZE BUR CER JEJ
1 China Guangzhou Evergrande 6 3 3 0 12 6 +6 12 Advance to knockout stage 1–1 3–1 5–3
2 Thailand Buriram United 6 2 3 1 7 6 +1 9 1–1 2–0 0–2
3 Japan Cerezo Osaka 6 2 2 2 6 8 −2 8 0–0 2–2 2–1
4 South Korea Jeju United 6 1 0 5 6 11 −5 3 0–2 0–1 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Guangzhou Evergrande China1–1Thailand Buriram United
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Attendance: 28,893
Jeju United South Korea0–1Japan Cerezo Osaka
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Cerezo Osaka Japan0–0China Guangzhou Evergrande
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Buriram United Thailand0–2South Korea Jeju United
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Attendance: 10,041

Buriram United Thailand2–0Japan Cerezo Osaka
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Attendance: 6,958
Guangzhou Evergrande China5–3South Korea Jeju United
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Attendance: 37,693

Cerezo Osaka Japan2–2Thailand Buriram United
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Attendance: 8,479
Referee: Mohanad Qassim (Iraq)
Jeju United South Korea0–2China Guangzhou Evergrande
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Cerezo Osaka Japan2–1South Korea Jeju United
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Attendance: 9,066
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Guangzhou Evergrande China3–1Japan Cerezo Osaka
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Attendance: 39,692
Jeju United South Korea0–1Thailand Buriram United
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Group H

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SSB KAS SYD SSH
1 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6 3 1 2 8 7 +1 10 Advance to knockout stage 1–2 1–4 1–1
2 Japan Kashima Antlers 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9 0–1 1–1 1–1
3 Australia Sydney FC 6 1 3 2 7 8 −1 6 0–2 0–2 0–0
4 China Shanghai Shenhua 6 0 5 1 6 8 −2 5 0–2 2–2 2–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Kashima Antlers Japan1–1China Shanghai Shenhua
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Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea1–2Japan Kashima Antlers
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Shanghai Shenhua China2–2Australia Sydney FC
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Sydney FC Australia0–2Japan Kashima Antlers
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Attendance: 6,442
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Kashima Antlers Japan1–1Australia Sydney FC
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Sydney FC Australia0–0China Shanghai Shenhua
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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The seeding of the second group stage team from Saudi Arabia and the first group stage team from Uzbekistan was determined by draw.
  2. ^ The identity of the second group stage team from Japan was not known at the time of the draw.
  3. ^ a b The seeding of the first group stage teams from Thailand and Hong Kong was determined by draw.
  4. ^ a b c d Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia are played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.
  5. ^ The Kitchee v Tianjin Quanjian match was played in Mong Kok Stadium, as the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens was held in Hong Kong Stadium in early April.

References

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  1. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2018". AFC. 11 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  3. ^ "AFC Champions League 2018 Official Group Stage Draw". YouTube. 6 December 2017.
  4. ^ "AFC Champions League 2018 draw concluded". AFC. 6 December 2017.
  5. ^ "AFC reinforces support for home and away football". AFC. 28 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Iranian football teams not to play in neutral venues: Ali Kafashian". persianfootball.com. 29 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Qatar crisis could affect AFC Champions League fixtures following group stage draw". sport360.com. 6 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Saudi, UAE Say Won't Play ACL Matches in Iran or Qatar". ifpnews.com. 2 December 2017.
  9. ^ "AFC Champions League matches to be played on home and away format as per AFC Regulations". AFC. 27 January 2018.
  10. ^ "UAE, Saudi Arabia denied neutral venues for Qatar encounters". AS. 29 January 2018.
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