Indian Super League's Mumbai City FC is gearing up for an exciting AFC Champions League season, as they find themselves grouped with Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal. This draw sets the stage for potential encounters with Brazilian football sensation Neymar, who recently joined Al Hilal after his stints with Barcelona FC and Paris Saint-Germain.
Al Hilal's Stature and Squad Reinforcements
Al Hilal, the third-place finisher in the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League, has secured a major coup by acquiring Neymar's talents. This move adds a new dimension to the team's already impressive track record. With four AFC Champions League titles and five runner-up finishes, Al Hilal stands as a dominant force in the competition's history. The team's ambitious preparations for the upcoming season include notable signings like Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Yassine Bounou, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Neymar's Potential Appearance in India
Mumbai City FC's journey through the group stage will feature a home-and-away format. This raises the prospect of Neymar gracing the field at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, the home venue of Mumbai City FC. For Indian fans, witnessing Neymar play on their home soil would be an extraordinary experience.
AFC Champions League Grouping
The draw for the AFC Champions League 2023-24 group stage took place at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Alongside Mumbai City FC and Al Hilal in Group D, FC Nassaji Mazandaran of Iran and PFC Navbahor Namangan of Uzbekistan complete the lineup.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Group E
In another compelling grouping, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr finds itself in Group E, facing off against Persepolis FC of Iran, Al Duhail SC of Qatar, and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan.
Road to the Round of 16
The structure of the tournament dictates that the 10 group winners, along with the three highest-ranking runners-up from the five West Zone groups, will advance to the round-of-16 stage. As the competition unfolds, football enthusiasts around the world await the thrilling clashes and potential showdowns between these top-tier teams.
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