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2026-27 AFC Champions League tournament matchups

Updated 18 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-16 22:17 UTC → 2026-10-06 10:11 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage is underway, featuring 32 clubs divided into East and West zones. In the Middle East, Al Qadsiah opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over UAE’s Al Wasl in Dammam. Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers noted the team started “in the right manner” despite heat and humidity, emphasizing that “Players are not machines” to justify rotation. Other regional results include Iran’s Esteghlal securing a 3-0 victory over Qatar’s Al Sadd. A major fixture saw UAE Pro League champions Al Ain defeat Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr 4-0 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Led by the Rahimi brothers, Houssine Rahimi scored twice, while Soufiane Rahimi and Georgios Giakoumakis added further goals. Despite Al Nassr maintaining higher possession, Al Ain’s clinical attacking play dismantled the Saudi defense. The loss leaves Al Nassr at the bottom of the Western region’s league-stage standings. The 41-year-old Cristiano ~~Ronaldo~~ Ronaldo, alongside teammates Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, struggled to influence the game, marking his heaviest defeat since moving to the Middle East and sparking pundit speculation regarding a potential departure in January. Following the defeat, Al Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou defended Ronaldo, citing a congested fixture schedule, while critics pointed to tactical vulnerabilities in his 3-4-3 formation. In another key matchup, Al Hilal defeated Al Gharafa 2-1 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. The match was marked by high intensity and disciplinary issues, including red cards for Al Hilal's Crysencio Summerville and Al Gharafa's Ismael Bennacer following a physical altercation. Ruben Neves opened the scoring for Al Hilal with a penalty, and Sergej Milinković-Savić doubled the lead with a header. Al Gharafa managed a late consolation goal through Alaa El-Din Hassan in stoppage time. Other Saudi Arabian clubs are also beginning their campaigns, including defending champion Al-Ahli, who played to a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor, and Al-Ittihad, who travels to face debutants Al-Shamal in Qatar.

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