The 2017 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 20 February to 10 May 2017.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2017 AFC Champions League.[2]
Draw edit
The draw for the group stage was held on 13 December 2016, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the Hilton Petaling Jaya in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.[3][4][5] 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.[6]
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:[6]
- For the West Region, a draw was held for the three associations with three direct entrants (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran) 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 were not known at the time of the draw.[3][6]
Format edit
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 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 10.5):[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;
- 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;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
- 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);
- Team from the higher-ranked association.
Schedule edit
The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1] Matches in the West Region were played on Mondays and Tuesdays, while matches in the East Region were played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
| Matchday | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 20–22 February 2017 | Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2 |
| Matchday 2 | 27 February – 1 March 2017 | Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1 |
| Matchday 3 | 13–15 March 2017 | Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3 |
| Matchday 4 | 10–12 April 2017 | Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1 |
| Matchday 5 | 24–26 April 2017 | Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3 |
| Matchday 6 | 8–10 May 2017 | Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4 |
Groups edit
Group A edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AHL | EST | TAA | LOK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Al-Ahli
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 11[a] | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | |
| 2 |  Esteghlal
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 11[a] | 1–1 | — | 3–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 3 |  Al-Taawoun
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 5[b] | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 |  Lokomotiv Tashkent
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 5[b] | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–4 | — |
| Al-Taawoun | 1–0 | Lokomotiv Tashkent |
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| Esteghlal | 3–0 | Al-Taawoun |
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Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
| Al-Ahli | 0–0 | Al-Taawoun |
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| Lokomotiv Tashkent | 1–1 | Esteghlal |
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| Al-Taawoun | 1–3 | Al-Ahli |
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| Lokomotiv Tashkent | 4–4 | Al-Taawoun |
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| Al-Ahli | 4–0 | Lokomotiv Tashkent |
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| Al-Taawoun | 1–2 | Esteghlal |
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Attendance: 375
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
Group B edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LEK | ESK | FAT | JAZ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Lekhwiya
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6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 14 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Esteghlal Khuzestan
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6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 9 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | Al-Fateh
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6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 6 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | ||
| 4 | Al-Jazira
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6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — |
| Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1–0 | Al-Fateh |
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Attendance: 300
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
| Al-Fateh | 2–2 | Lekhwiya |
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| Al-Jazira | 0–1 | Esteghlal Khuzestan |
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| Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1–1 | Lekhwiya |
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| Al-Fateh | 3–1 | Al-Jazira |
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Attendance: 4,514
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
| Lekhwiya | 2–1 | Esteghlal Khuzestan |
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| Al-Fateh | 1–1 | Esteghlal Khuzestan |
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| Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1–1 | Al-Jazira |
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Group C edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AIN | AHL | ZOB | BUN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Ain
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6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Al-Ahli
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 11 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Zob Ahan
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 7 | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | Bunyodkor
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6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — |
| Al-Ahli | 2–0 | Bunyodkor |
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| Zob Ahan | 1–2 | Al-Ahli |
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Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
| Al-Ahli | 2–2 | Al-Ain |
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| Bunyodkor | 2–0 | Al-Ahli |
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| Zob Ahan | 0–3 | Al-Ain |
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| Al-Ain | 3–0 | Bunyodkor |
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Group D edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | HIL | PER | RAY | WAH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal
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6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Persepolis
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6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 4–2 | ||
| 3 | Al-Rayyan
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 7 | 3–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | Al-Wahda
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6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | — |
| Persepolis | 1–1 | Al-Hilal |
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Attendance: 13,715
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
| Al-Rayyan | 2–1 | Al-Wahda |
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| Al-Wahda | 2–3 | Persepolis |
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| Al-Hilal | 2–1 | Al-Rayyan |
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| Al-Rayyan | 3–1 | Persepolis |
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| Al-Hilal | 1–0 | Al-Wahda |
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| Al-Hilal | 0–0 | Persepolis |
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Attendance: 10,177
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
| Persepolis | 4–2 | Al-Wahda |
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Group E edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KSA | MUA | ULS | BRI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kashima Antlers
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6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | |
| 2 |  Muangthong United
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 11 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | ||
| 3 |  Ulsan Hyundai
|
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0–4 | 0–0 | — | 6–0 | ||
| 4 |  Brisbane Roar
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6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 4 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | — |
| Kashima Antlers | 2–0 | Ulsan Hyundai |
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Attendance: 7,860
| Ulsan Hyundai | 6–0 | Brisbane Roar |
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| Muangthong United | 2–1 | Kashima Antlers |
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| Brisbane Roar | 2–1 | Kashima Antlers |
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| Muangthong United | 1–0 | Ulsan Hyundai |
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| Ulsan Hyundai | 0–4 | Kashima Antlers |
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| Kashima Antlers | 2–1 | Muangthong United |
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| Brisbane Roar | 2–3 | Ulsan Hyundai |
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Group F edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | URA | SSI | SEO | WSW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urawa Red Diamonds
|
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 12[a] | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–0 | 5–2 | 6–1 | |
| 2 |  Shanghai SIPG
|
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 12[a] | 3–2 | — | 4–2 | 5–1 | ||
| 3 | FC Seoul
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6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 6[b] | 1–0 | 0–1 | — | 2–3 | ||
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 22 | −12 | 6[b] | 0–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — |
- ^ a b Head-to-head results: Shanghai SIPG 3–2 Urawa Red Diamonds, Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 Shanghai SIPG (Urawa Red Diamonds won on away goals).
- ^ a b Head-to-head results: FC Seoul 2–3 Western Sydney Wanderers, Western Sydney Wanderers 2–3 FC Seoul (tied on head-to-head results, ranked on total goal difference).
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 0–4 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
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| FC Seoul | 0–1 | Shanghai SIPG |
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| Urawa Red Diamonds | 5–2 | FC Seoul |
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| FC Seoul | 2–3 | Western Sydney Wanderers |
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| Shanghai SIPG | 3–2 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
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| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2–3 | FC Seoul |
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| Urawa Red Diamonds | 1–0 | Shanghai SIPG |
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Attendance: 21,858
Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan (United Arab Emirates)
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 6–1 | Western Sydney Wanderers |
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| Shanghai SIPG | 4–2 | FC Seoul |
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Group G edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KAW | GZE | SSB | EAS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale
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6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 10[a] | Advance to knockout stage | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | |
| 2 | Guangzhou Evergrande
|
6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 10[a] | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 7–0 | ||
| 3 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
|
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 9 | 0–1 | 2–2 | — | 5–0 | ||
| 4 |  Eastern
|
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 24 | −23 | 1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–1 | — |
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 7–0 | Eastern |
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| Eastern | 1–1 | Kawasaki Frontale |
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| Eastern | 0–1 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
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Attendance: 5,882
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5–0 | Eastern |
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| Eastern | 0–6 | Guangzhou Evergrande |
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| Guangzhou Evergrande | 2–2 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
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| Kawasaki Frontale | 4–0 | Eastern |
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Attendance: 11,235
Referee: Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
Group H edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JIA | JEJ | ADE | GAM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jiangsu Suning
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6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Jeju United
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6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 10 | 0–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Adelaide United
|
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 5 | 0–1 | 3–3 | — | 0–3 | ||
| 4 | Gamba Osaka
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6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 4 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — |
| Jeju United | 0–1 | Jiangsu Suning |
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| Gamba Osaka | 1–4 | Jeju United |
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| Jiangsu Suning | 2–1 | Adelaide United |
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| Adelaide United | 3–3 | Jeju United |
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| Gamba Osaka | 0–1 | Jiangsu Suning |
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| Report | Ramires  39' |
| Jeju United | 1–3 | Adelaide United |
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| Jiangsu Suning | 3–0 | Gamba Osaka |
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| Jiangsu Suning | 1–2 | Jeju United |
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| Adelaide United | 0–1 | Jiangsu Suning |
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Attendance: 6,797
| Jeju United | 2–0 | Gamba Osaka |
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Notes edit
- ^ a b c The seeding of the first and second group stage teams from Qatar and the first group stage team Uzbekistan were determined by draw.[6]
- ^ On 18 January 2017, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were excluded from the 2017 AFC Champions League due to a bribery scandal in the domestic K League Classic.[7] As a result, Jeju United entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs to replace them.[8]
- ^ a b The identity of the second and third group stage teams from Japan were not known at the time of the draw.[9]
- ^ a b The seeding of the first group stage teams from Thailand and Hong Kong were determined by draw.[6]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.
References edit
- ^ a b "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2017" (PDF). AFC.
- ^ a b "2017 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Champions Jeonbuk to learn ACL 2017 opponents on Tuesday". AFC. 12 December 2016.
- ^ "AFC Champions League 2017: Official Draw". YouTube. 13 December 2016.
- ^ "AFC Champions League 2017 draw concluded". AFC. 14 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "AFC Champions League 2017 Draw Mechanism" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^ "Reigning champions disqualified from top Asian club football tournament". english.yonhapnews.co.kr. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ineligible for AFC Champions League 2017". AFC. 18 January 2017.
- ^ "Japanese clubs confirm 2017 AFC Champions League opponents". AFC. 1 January 2017.
External links edit
- AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com
- AFC Champions League 2017, stats.the-AFC.com