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2019 AFC Champions League group stage

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The 2019 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 4 March to 29 May 2019.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League.[2] The postponement of Group A fixture between Zob Ahan and Al-Nassr made the group stage conclude a week behind schedule.[3]

Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held on 22 November 2018, 16:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[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 mechanism of the draw was as follows:[5]

  • For the West Region, there was no associations draw due to country protection. A draw was held for each of the four associations with more than one direct entrant (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran) to determine for each team their group positions:
    • The three direct entrants of the United Arab Emirates were drawn to positions A1, B2, or C3, while the play-off winners West 1 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position D4.
    • The three direct entrants of Saudi Arabia were drawn to positions B1, C2, or D3, while the play-off winners West 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position A4.
    • The two direct entrants of Qatar were drawn to positions C1 or D2, while the play-off winners West 3 and 4 (which their play-off teams may advance from) were drawn to positions A3 or B4.
    • The two direct entrants of Iran were drawn to positions D1 or C4.
    • The direct entrants of Uzbekistan and Iraq were allocated to positions B3 and A2 respectively.
  • For the East Region, a draw was held for the two associations with three direct entrants (South Korea, China) to determine the order of associations. After the associations draw, a draw was held for each of the four associations with more than one direct entrant (South Korea, China, Japan, Australia) to determine for each team their group positions:
    • The three direct entrants of the first association drawn (South Korea or China) were drawn to positions E1, F2, or G3, while the play-off winners East 1 or 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position H4.
    • The three direct entrants of the second association drawn (South Korea or China) were drawn to positions F1, G2, or H3, while the play-off winners East 1 or 2 (which their play-off team may advance from) were allocated to position E4.
    • The two direct entrants of Japan were drawn to positions G1 or H2, while the play-off winners East 3 and 4 (which their play-off teams may advance from) were either allocated to F4 and E3 respectively (if South Korea were the first association drawn), or drawn to positions E3 or F4 (if China were the first association drawn).
    • The two direct entrants of Australia were either drawn to positions H1 or F3 (if South Korea were the first association drawn, or if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 4 were drawn to position E3), or positions H1 or E2 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 3 were drawn to position E3).
    • The direct entrants of Thailand and Malaysia were allocated to either positions G4 and E2 (if South Korea were the first association drawn), positions F3 and G4 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 4 were drawn to position E3), or positions E2 and G4 (if China were the first association drawn and the play-off winners East 3 were drawn to position E3) respectively.

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 Teams
West Region A–D United Arab Emirates Al-Ain United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl Uzbekistan Pakhtakor (Winners of Play-off West 1)
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr (Winners of Play-off West 2)
Qatar Al-Duhail Qatar Al-Sadd Qatar Al-Rayyan (Winners of Play-off West 3) Iran Zob Ahan (Winners of Play-off West 4)
Iran Persepolis Iran Esteghlal Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent[note 1] Iraq Al-Zawraa
East Region E–H South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea Daegu FC[note 1] South Korea Gyeongnam FC[note 1] South Korea Ulsan Hyundai (Winners of Play-off East 1)
China Shanghai SIPG China Beijing FC[note 1] China Guangzhou Evergrande China Shandong Luneng (Winners of Play-off East 2)
Japan Kawasaki Frontale Japan Urawa Red Diamonds[note 1] Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Winners of Play-off East 3) Japan Kashima Antlers (Winners of Play-off East 4)
Australia Sydney FC Australia Melbourne Victory Thailand Buriram United Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim

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 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;
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group were tied;
  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. Association ranking.

Schedule

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The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1][6]

  • Matches in the West Region were played on Mondays and Tuesdays. Two groups were played on each day, with the following groups played on Mondays:
    • Matchdays 1 and 2: Groups A and B
    • Matchday 3: Groups A and C
    • Matchday 4: Groups B and D
    • Matchdays 5 and 6: Groups C and D
  • Matches in the East Region were played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Two groups were played on each day, with the following groups played on Tuesdays:
    • Matchdays 1 and 2: Groups E and F
    • Matchday 3: Groups E and G
    • Matchday 4: Groups F and H
    • Matchdays 5 and 6: Groups G and H
Matchday Dates Matches
Matchday 1 4–6 March 2019 Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2
Matchday 2 11–13 March 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1
Matchday 3 8–10 April 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3
Matchday 4 22–24 April 2019 Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 5 6–8 May 2019 Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 6 20–22 May 2019 Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4

Groups

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZOB NAS ZAW WAS
1 Iran Zob Ahan 6 3 3 0 10 5 +5 12 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 0–0 2–0
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 6 3 1 2 11 7 +4 10 2–3 4–1 3–1
3 Iraq Al-Zawraa 6 2 2 2 14 9 +5 8 2–2 1–2 5–0
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl 6 1 0 5 4 18 −14 3 1–3 1–0 1–5
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
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Attendance: 5,370
Zob Ahan Iran0–0Iraq Al-Zawraa
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Attendance: 2,433
Referee: Fu Ming (China)

Al-Zawraa Iraq5–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia2–3Iran Zob Ahan
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Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates1–3Iran Zob Ahan
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Attendance: 620
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia4–1Iraq Al-Zawraa
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Al-Zawraa Iraq1–2Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
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Attendance: 27,500
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Zob Ahan Iran2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Al-Zawraa Iraq2–2Iran Zob Ahan
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Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia3–1United Arab Emirates Al-Wasl
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Al-Wasl United Arab Emirates1–5Iraq Al-Zawraa
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Attendance: 365

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WAH ITH LOK RAY
1 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 6 4 1 1 14 9 +5 13 Advance to knockout stage 4–1 3–1 4–3
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 6 3 2 1 13 9 +4 11 1–1 3–2 5–1
3 Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7 2–0 1–1 3–2
4 Qatar Al-Rayyan 6 1 0 5 9 17 −8 3 1–2 0–2 2–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia5–1Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Al-Rayyan Qatar2–1Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates4–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
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Attendance: 2,779
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)

Al-Rayyan Qatar1–2United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia3–2Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan1–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
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Attendance: 4,267
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates4–3Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Attendance: 3,727

Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates3–1Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
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Al-Rayyan Qatar0–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
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Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan3–2Qatar Al-Rayyan
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Attendance: 2,540
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia1–1United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
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Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HIL DUH EST AIN
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 6 4 1 1 10 5 +5 13 Advance to knockout stage 3–1 1–0 2–0
2 Qatar Al-Duhail 6 2 3 1 11 8 +3 9 2–2 3–0 2–2
3 Iran Esteghlal 6 2 2 2 6 8 −2 8 2–1 1–1 1–1
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 6 0 2 4 4 10 −6 2 0–1 0–2 1–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Duhail Qatar3–0Iran Esteghlal
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Al-Ain United Arab Emirates0–1Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Esteghlal Iran1–1United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Attendance: 65,178
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia3–1Qatar Al-Duhail
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Al-Duhail Qatar2–2United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Attendance: 6,300
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Esteghlal Iran2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Al-Ain United Arab Emirates0–2Qatar Al-Duhail
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Esteghlal Iran1–1Qatar Al-Duhail
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Attendance: 37,400
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
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Al-Duhail Qatar2–2Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Al-Ain United Arab Emirates1–2Iran Esteghlal
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Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAD AHL PAK PER
1 Qatar Al-Sadd 6 3 1 2 7 8 −1 10 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 2–1 1–0
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 6 3 0 3 7 7 0 9 2–0 2–1 2–1
3 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8 2–2 1–0 1–0
4 Iran Persepolis 6 2 1 3 6 5 +1 7 2–0 2–0 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Persepolis Iran1–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
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Attendance: 46,350
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–0Qatar Al-Sadd
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Attendance: 7,328
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Al-Sadd Qatar1–0Iran Persepolis
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Pakhtakor Uzbekistan2–2Qatar Al-Sadd
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Attendance: 32,315
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Persepolis Iran2–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–1Iran Persepolis
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Al-Sadd Qatar2–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
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Attendance: 4,692
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan1–0Iran Persepolis
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Al-Sadd Qatar2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
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Persepolis Iran2–0Qatar Al-Sadd
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Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
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Attendance: 23,183
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SDL KAS GYE JDT
1 China Shandong Luneng 6 3 2 1 10 8 +2 11 Advance to knockout stage 2–2 2–1 2–1
2 Japan Kashima Antlers 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 10 2–1 0–1 2–1
3 South Korea Gyeongnam FC 6 2 2 2 9 8 +1 8 2–2 2–3 2–0
4 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 6 1 1 4 4 8 −4 4 0–1 1–0 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Kashima Antlers Japan2–1Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
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Shandong Luneng China2–2Japan Kashima Antlers
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Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia1–1South Korea Gyeongnam FC
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Attendance: 16,130
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)

Gyeongnam FC South Korea2–3Japan Kashima Antlers
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Kashima Antlers Japan0–1South Korea Gyeongnam FC
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Attendance: 7,193
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia0–1China Shandong Luneng
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Attendance: 13,960

Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia1–0Japan Kashima Antlers
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Attendance: 4,860
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)

Gyeongnam FC South Korea2–0Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
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Kashima Antlers Japan2–1China Shandong Luneng
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Group F

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAN GZE DAE MVC
1 Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 5 0 1 9 4 +5 15 Advance to knockout stage 1–0 2–0 2–1
2 China Guangzhou Evergrande 6 3 1 2 9 5 +4 10 2–0 1–0 4–0
3 South Korea Daegu FC 6 3 0 3 10 6 +4 9 0–1 3–1 4–0
4 Australia Melbourne Victory 6 0 1 5 4 17 −13 1 1–3 1–1 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Melbourne Victory Australia1–3South Korea Daegu FC
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Guangzhou Evergrande China2–0Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan2–1Australia Melbourne Victory
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Attendance: 8,968
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Daegu FC South Korea3–1China Guangzhou Evergrande
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Attendance: 11,064

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan2–0South Korea Daegu FC
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Attendance: 2,611
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)
Guangzhou Evergrande China4–0Australia Melbourne Victory
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Daegu FC South Korea0–1Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan1–0China Guangzhou Evergrande
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Attendance: 4,302

Group G

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JEO URA BJG BUR
1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 4 1 1 7 3 +4 13 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 3–1 0–0
2 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 6 3 1 2 9 4 +5 10 0–1 3–0 3–0
3 China Beijing FC 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7 0–1 0–0 2–0
4 Thailand Buriram United 6 1 1 4 3 10 −7 4 1–0 1–2 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan3–0Thailand Buriram United
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Attendance: 20,056
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)

Buriram United Thailand1–0South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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Attendance: 7,222
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Beijing FC China0–0Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
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Attendance: 43,112

Urawa Red Diamonds Japan0–1South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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Attendance: 20,118
Buriram United Thailand1–3China Beijing FC
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Beijing FC China2–0Thailand Buriram United
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Attendance: 25,720

Buriram United Thailand1–2Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
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Attendance: 10,970
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Urawa Red Diamonds Japan3–0China Beijing FC
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Attendance: 22,885
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

Group H

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ULS SSI KAW SYD
1 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 6 3 2 1 5 7 −2 11 Advance to knockout stage 1–0 1–0 1–0
2 China Shanghai SIPG 6 2 3 1 13 8 +5 9 5–0 1–0 2–2
3 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 6 2 2 2 9 6 +3 8 2–2 2–2 1–0
4 Australia Sydney FC 6 0 3 3 5 11 −6 3 0–0 3–3 0–4
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Sydney FC Australia0–0South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
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Attendance: 4,039

Ulsan Hyundai South Korea1–0China Shanghai SIPG
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Kawasaki Frontale Japan1–0Australia Sydney FC
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Sydney FC Australia3–3China Shanghai SIPG
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Attendance: 7,154

Shanghai SIPG China2–2Australia Sydney FC
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Ulsan Hyundai South Korea1–0Australia Sydney FC
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Attendance: 1,520
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Kawasaki Frontale Japan2–2China Shanghai SIPG
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Sydney FC Australia0–4Japan Kawasaki Frontale
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Attendance: 3,813
Referee: Mohanad Qasim (Iraq)
Shanghai SIPG China5–0South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
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Attendance: 22,763

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e The identity of the first group stage team from Uzbekistan, the second and third group stage teams from South Korea, and the second group stage teams from China and Japan was not known at the time of the group stage draw.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.
  3. ^ a b The Zob Ahan v Al-Nassr match, originally scheduled to be played on 21 May 2019, 21:00 UTC+3, at Karbala Sports City, Karbala (Iraq), was postponed due to safety concerns.[3][7] The match was rescheduled to 29 May 2019 and moved to a new venue.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2019". AFC. 1 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "2019 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  3. ^ a b "AFC Champions League 2019 match between Zob Ahan and Al Nassr postponed due to safety concerns". Fox Sports Asia. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Continent's elite set for 2019 campaign". AFC. 22 November 2018.
  5. ^ "亚冠小组赛抽签规则有变 极端情况中日韩冠军同组" (in Chinese).
  6. ^ "AFC Champions League 2019 Official Match Schedule". AFC.
  7. ^ "Zobahan vs Al Nassr tie postponed". Asian Football Confederation. 21 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Iran's Zob Ahan, Saudi's Al Nassr match new date, venue announced". Mehr News Agency. 22 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Zobahan vs Al Nassr tie on May 29". AFC. 23 May 2019.
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