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{{Short description|37th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC}}
{{Infobox international football competition
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = AFC Champions League
| tourney_name = AFC Champions League
| year = 2018
| year = 2018
| dates = {{nowrap|16 January – 10 November 2018}}
| dates = ''Qualifying:''<br />16–30 January 2018<br />''Competition proper:''<br />{{nowrap|12 February – 10 November 2018}}
| num_teams = Maximum of 53
| num_teams = ''Competition proper:'' 32<br />''Total:'' 46
| associations = Maximum of 24
| associations = 20
| champion_other =
| champion_other = [[Kashima Antlers]]
| count =
| count = 1
| second_other =
| second_other = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| matches =
| matches = 126
| goals =
| goals = 364
| attendance = {{#expr:<!--Group A-->+ 4138 + 1253 + 2833 + 14477 + 3360 + 7345 + 41520 + 19020 + 3215 + 100 + 621 + 1500 <!--Group B-->+ 5440 + 2150 + 1764 + 6322 + 3114 + 4023 + 6375 + 1839 + 4760 + 3678 + 700 + 4212 <!--Group C-->+ 25830 + 5895 + 12348 + 5842 + 20978 + 33170 + 4133 + 5841 + 18349 + 5169 + 32170 + 250 <!--Group D-->+ 5038 + 24010 + 8856 + 4175 + 10036 + 22535 + 9138 + 90000 + 15126 + 37221 + 4500 + 6178 <!--Group E-->+ 8704 + 21213 + 6776 + 13519 + 8691 + 5541 + 7771 + 15314 + 7187 + 6299 + 4487 + 17418 <!--Group F-->+ 5127 + 12193 + 2398 + 16697 + 11189 + 20757 + 6639 + 4040 + 834 + 21657 + 8422 + 7148 <!--Group G-->+ 28893 + 3993 + 9885 + 10041 + 6958 + 37693 + 8479 + 4035 + 9066 + 10533 + 39692 + 1355 <!--Group H-->+ 6349 + 9192 + 4870 + 22918 + 6442 + 3904 + 8636 + 21990 + 3756 + 20028 + 9855 + 6229 <!--Round of 16-->+ 5821 + 80000 + 3613 + 24150 + 10160 + 75680 + 7124 + 6853 + 23508 + 48632 + 10382 + 11218 + 1648 + 3176 + 8860 + 19697 <!--Quarter-finals-->+ 78116 + 6462 + 6650 + 71312 + 13634 + 8718 + 9385 + 8028 <!--Semi-finals-->+ 9087 + 81350 + 13044 + 10296 <!--Final-->+ 35022 + 100000}}
| attendance =
| top_scorer = <!--Starting from group stage, excluding play-off-->
| top_scorer = <!--Starting from group stage, excluding play-off-->[[Baghdad Bounedjah]] {{nowrap|(13 goals)}}
| player =
| player = [[Yuma Suzuki]]
| fair_play = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| prevseason = [[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
| prevseason = [[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
| nextseason = ''[[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]]''
| nextseason = [[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]]
| updated =
}}
}}


The '''2018 AFC Champions League''' will be the 37th edition of [[Asia]]'s premier club [[association football|football]] tournament organized by the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC), and the 16th under the current [[AFC Champions League]] title.
The '''2018 AFC Champions League''' was the 37th edition of Asia's premier club [[association football|football]] tournament organized by the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC), and the 16th under the current [[AFC Champions League]] title.


The winners of the 2018 AFC Champions League will qualify as the AFC representative at the [[2018 FIFA Club World Cup]] in the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="regulations">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/acl_2018_competition_regulations_14112017.pdf|title=2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations|publisher=AFC|format=PDF}}</ref> If a team from the United Arab Emirates wins the AFC Champions League, the runners-up will also qualify (in place of the winners of the [[2017–18 UAE Pro-League]]).
[[Kashima Antlers]] won the title for the first time, defeating [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] in the [[2018 AFC Champions League Final|final]], and qualified as the AFC representative at the [[2018 FIFA Club World Cup]] in the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="regulations">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-champions-league-2018-regulations|title=2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations|publisher=AFC|format=PDF}}</ref>

[[Urawa Red Diamonds]] were the title holders, but they were unable to defend their title as they finished seventh in the [[2017 J1 League]] and were eliminated in the fourth round of the [[2017 Emperor's Cup]], thus did not qualify for the tournament. It marked the second season in a row without title holders after [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] were disqualified in [[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]] as a result of their involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2016.


==Association team allocation==
==Association team allocation==
The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions-division/revamp-of-afc-competitions|title=Revamp of AFC competitions|publisher=AFC|date=25 January 2014}}</ref> which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals|title=ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals|publisher=AFC|date=16 April 2014}}</ref> The 46 [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] member associations (excluding the associate member [[Northern Mariana Islands Football Association|Northern Mariana Islands]]) are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2016 [[AFC Club Competitions Ranking|AFC rankings]] (Entry Manual Article 2.2):<ref name="manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/entry_manual_entry_manual_for_afc_club_competitions_2017-2020_14092017.pdf|title=Entry Manual: AFC Club Competitions 2017–2020|publisher=AFC}}</ref>
The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions-division/revamp-of-afc-competitions|title=Revamp of AFC competitions|publisher=AFC|date=25 January 2014}}</ref> which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals|title=ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals|publisher=AFC|date=16 April 2014}}</ref> The 46 [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] member associations (excluding the associate member [[Northern Mariana Islands Football Association|Northern Mariana Islands]]) are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2016 [[AFC Club Competitions Ranking|AFC rankings]] (Entry Manual Article 2.2):<ref name="manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/entry-manual-afc-club-competitions-2017-2020-33728|title=Entry Manual: AFC Club Competitions 2017–2020|publisher=AFC|format=PDF}}</ref>
*The associations are split into two regions:
*The associations were split into two regions:
**'''West Region''' consists of the associations from the [[West Asian Football Federation]] (WAFF), the [[Central Asian Football Association]] (CAFA), and the [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF).
**'''West Region''' consists of the associations from the [[West Asian Football Federation]] (WAFF), the [[Central Asian Football Association]] (CAFA), and the [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF).
**'''East Region''' consists of the associations from the [[ASEAN Football Federation]] (AFF) and the [[East Asian Football Federation]] (EAFF).
**'''East Region''' consists of the associations from the [[ASEAN Football Federation]] (AFF) and the [[East Asian Football Federation]] (EAFF).
*In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
*In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
*The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
*The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
*The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots:
*The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as [[AFC Cup]] group stage slots):
**The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot.
**The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot.
**The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots.
**The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots.
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**The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
**The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
**The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot.
**The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot.
*The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of clubs in the top division.
*The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division.
*If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
*If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
*If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
*If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.


For the 2018 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their [[AFC Club Competitions Ranking#Member Association ranking|association ranking]] published on 30 November 2016,<ref name="ranking">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_ma_ranking_30112016.pdf|title=AFC MA Ranking (as of 30 November 2016)|publisher=AFC}}</ref> which takes into account their performance in the [[AFC Champions League]] and the [[AFC Cup]], as well as their national team's [[FIFA World Rankings]], during the period between 2013 and 2016.<ref name="manual"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_ma_ranking_mechanics.pdf|title=AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics (2016 version)|publisher=AFC}}</ref>
For the 2018 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their [[AFC Club Competitions Ranking#Format|association ranking]] published on 30 November 2016,<ref name="ranking">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-ma-ranking-as-of-30-november-2016-36584|title=AFC MA Ranking (as of 30 November 2016)|publisher=AFC|format=PDF}}</ref> which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's [[FIFA World Rankings]], during the period between 2013 and 2016.<ref name="manual"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_ma_ranking_mechanics.pdf|title=AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics (2016 version)|publisher=AFC}}</ref>


{| cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=1 style="font-size:95%; border:gray solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse"
{| cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=1 style="font-size:95%; border:gray solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse"
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!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 2}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 2}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 1}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 1}}}}
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 1|| 2||align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} {{nfa|UAE}}
| 1|| 2||align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[United Arab Emirates Football Association|United&nbsp;Arab&nbsp;Emirates]]
|87.555||||||||
|87.555||3||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 2|| 3||align=left|{{flagicon|KSA}} {{nfa|KSA}}
| 2|| 3||align=left|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi&nbsp;Arabia]]{{Cref2|KSA}}
|84.698||||||||
|84.698||2||0||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 3|| 4||align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} {{nfa|IRN}}
| 3|| 4||align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]]
|78.908||||||||
|78.908||3||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 4|| 5||align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} {{nfa|QAT}}
| 4|| 5||align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]]
|78.171||||||||
|78.171||3||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 5|| 9||align=left|{{flagicon|UZB}} {{nfa|UZB}}
| 5|| 9||align=left|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]]
|56.876||||||||
|56.876||1||2||0||0
|-bgcolor=#ffcccc
|-
| 6||10||align=left|{{flagicon|IRQ}} {{nfa|IRQ}}
| 6||10||align=left|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]]{{Cref2|IRQ}}
|37.240||||||||
|37.240||0||0||0||0
|-bgcolor=#ffcccc
|-
| 7||11||align=left|{{flagicon|KUW}} {{nfa|KUW}}{{Cref2|Note KUW}}
| 7||11||align=left|{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Kuwait Football Association|Kuwait]]{{Cref2|KUW}}
|36.457||||||||
|36.457||0||0||0||0
|-bgcolor=#ffcccc
|-
| 8||13||align=left|{{flagicon|SYR}} {{nfa|SYR}}
| 8||13||align=left|{{flagicon|SYR}} [[Syrian Arab Federation for Football|Syria]]{{Cref2|SYR}}
|34.257||||||||
|34.257||0||0||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 9||15||align=left|{{flagicon|JOR}} {{nfa|JOR}}
| 9||15||align=left|{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Jordan Football Association|Jordan]]
|31.213||||||||
|31.213||0||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
|10||18||align=left|{{flagicon|IND}} {{nfa|IND}}
|10||18||align=left|{{flagicon|IND}} [[All India Football Federation|India]]
|27.930||||||||
|27.930||0||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
|11||19||align=left|{{flagicon|BHR}} {{nfa|BHR}}
|11||19||align=left|{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Bahrain Football Association|Bahrain]]
|27.353||||||||
|27.353||0||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#ffcccc
|-
|12||20||align=left|{{flagicon|LIB}} {{nfa|LIB}}
|12||20||align=left|{{flagicon|LIB}} [[Lebanon Football Association|Lebanon]]{{Cref2|LIB}}
|22.077||||||||
|22.077||0||0||0||0
|-
|-
!colspan=4 rowspan=3|Total
!colspan=4 rowspan=3|Total
!rowspan=2|&nbsp;!!!!!!
!rowspan=2|12!!8!!0!!0
|-
|-
!colspan=3|
!colspan=3|8
|-
|-
!colspan=4|
!colspan=4|20
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
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!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 2}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 2}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 1}}}}
!{{small|Prelim.<br />{{nowrap|round 1}}}}
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 1|| 1||align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} {{nfa|KOR}}
| 1|| 1||align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Korea Football Association|South&nbsp;Korea]]
|96.311||||||||
|96.311||3||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 2|| 6||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} {{nfa|JPN}}
| 2|| 6||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Japan Football Association|Japan]]
|75.807||||||||
|75.807||3||1||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 3|| 7||align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} {{nfa|CHN}}
| 3|| 7||align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chinese Football Association|China]]
|72.719||||||||
|72.719||2||2||0||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 4|| 8||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} {{nfa|AUS}}{{Cref2|Note AUS}}
| 4|| 8||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Football Federation Australia|Australia]]{{Cref2|AUS}}
|72.599||||||||
|72.599||2||0||1||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 5||12||align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} {{nfa|THA}}
| 5||12||align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]]
|34.753||||||||
|34.753||1||0||2||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 6||14||align=left|{{flagicon|HKG}} {{nfa|HKG}}
| 6||14||align=left|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Hong Kong Football Association|Hong&nbsp;Kong]]
|31.797||||||||
|31.797||1||0||1||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 7||16||align=left|{{flagicon|VIE}} {{nfa|VIE}}
| 7||16||align=left|{{flagicon|VIE}} [[Vietnam Football Federation|Vietnam]]
|29.273||||||||
|29.273||0||0||1||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 8||17||align=left|{{flagicon|MAS}} {{nfa|MAS}}
| 8||17||align=left|{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Football Association of Malaysia|Malaysia]]
|28.865||||||||
|28.865||0||0||1||0
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
| 9||21||align=left|{{flagicon|IDN}} {{nfa|IDN}}
| 9||21||align=left|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Football Association of Indonesia|Indonesia]]
|20.372||||||||
|20.372||0||0||0||1
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
|10||24||align=left|{{flagicon|MYA}} {{nfa|MYA}}
|10||24||align=left|{{flagicon|MYA}} [[Myanmar Football Federation|Myanmar]]
|17.220||||||||
|17.220||0||0||0||1
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
|11||25||align=left|{{flagicon|PHI}} {{nfa|PHI}}
|11||25||align=left|{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Philippine Football Federation|Philippines]]
|17.188||||||||
|17.188||0||0||0||1
|-bgcolor=#90ee77
|-
|12||27||align=left|{{flagicon|SIN}} {{nfa|SIN}}
|12||27||align=left|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Football Association of Singapore|Singapore]]
|13.664||||||||
|13.664||0||0||0||1
|-
|-
!colspan=4 rowspan=3|Total
!colspan=4 rowspan=3|Total
!rowspan=2|&nbsp;!!!!!!
!rowspan=2|12!!4!!6!!4
|-
|-
!colspan=3|
!colspan=3|14
|-
|-
!colspan=4|
!colspan=4|26
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


;Notes
;Notes
{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}{{Cnote2|Note AUS|'''Australia (AUS):''' The top division run by the [[Football Federation Australia]], the [[A-League]], only have nine Australia-based teams in the [[2016–17 A-League|2016–17 season]], so Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots.}}
{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc|2}}
{{Cnote2|AUS|'''Australia (AUS):''' The top division run by the [[Football Federation Australia]], the [[A-League]], only have nine Australia-based teams in the [[2016–17 A-League|2016–17 season]], so Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots (Entry Manual 5.4).<ref name="manual"/>}}
{{Cnote2|Note KUW|'''Kuwait (KUW):''' The [[Kuwait Football Association]] is currently suspended by FIFA (as of November 2017). If the suspension is not lifted by the entry deadline, Kuwaiti teams will be excluded from the competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed|url=http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-congress-drives-football-forward-first-female-secretary-general-a-2790957.html|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|IRQ|'''Iraq (IRQ):''' Iraq did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.<ref name="acl-license">{{cite web|title=List of Licensed Clubs for AFC Champions League 2018|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/list-of-licensed-clubs-for-afc-champions-league-2018|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=20 December 2017|format=PDF}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|KUW|'''Kuwait (KUW):''' Kuwait could not enter due to FIFA's suspension of the [[Kuwait Football Association]] at the entry deadline.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-congress-drives-football-forward-first-female-secretary-general-a-2790957.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516152844/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=5/news=fifa-congress-drives-football-forward-first-female-secretary-general-a-2790957.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2016|publisher=FIFA|access-date=13 May 2016}}</ref> (Even if its suspension were lifted, Kuwaiti clubs would not enter since Kuwait did not implement club licensing system.<ref name="acl-license"/>)}}
{{Cnote2|LIB|'''Lebanon (LIB):''' Lebanon did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.<ref name="acl-license"/>}}
{{Cnote2|KSA|'''Saudi Arabia (KSA):''' Saudi Arabia had only two entries as [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]] and [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]], the [[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] 3rd place and 4th place, which would have entered the group stage and qualifying play-offs respectively, failed to obtain an AFC licence, and no other teams below them in the league were eligible to replace them, as all other licensed teams from Saudi Arabia finished in the bottom half of the league and did not meet the sporting criteria (Entry Manual 12.6).<ref name="manual"/><ref name="acl-license"/>}}
{{Cnote2|SYR|'''Syria (SYR):''' Syria did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.<ref name="acl-license"/>}}
{{Cnote2 End}}
{{Cnote2 End}}


==Teams==
==Teams==
The following 46 teams from 20 associations entered the competition.
{{Message box
|backgroundcolor = #FFFFCC
|message = '''NOTE:''' The following list of participating teams is provisional. The final list of participating teams will be confirmed by the AFC by December 2017, based on the slot allocation finalised by the AFC Competitions Committee and the list of teams passing the club licensing requirements.
}}


''In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.''
''In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.''
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{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|-
|+West Region
|+West Region
|+[[#Group stage|Group stage]] direct entrants (Groups A–D)
|-
|-
!Team
!width=25%|Team
!Qualifying method
!width=60%|Qualifying method
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
!App
!Last App
|-
!colspan=4|[[#Group stage|Group stage]] direct entrants (Groups A–D)
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] champions
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] champions
|10th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|10th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Wahda FC|Al-Wahda]]
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Wahda FC|Al-Wahda]]
|[[2016–17 UAE President's Cup]] winners
|[[2016–17 UAE President's Cup]] winners
|9th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|9th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Wasl F.C.|Al-Wasl]]
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Wasl F.C.|Al-Wasl]]
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] runners-up
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] runners-up
|2nd {{small|([[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]])}}
|2nd
|[[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] champions<br />[[2017 King Cup]] winners
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] champions and [[2017 King Cup]] winners
|14th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|14th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]]
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]]
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] runners-up
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] runners-up
|10th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|10th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] 3rd place
|4th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] champions and [[2017 Iranian Super Cup]] winners
|7th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|7th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|[[2016–17 Hazfi Cup]] winners
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] runners-up
|9th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|3rd
|-
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Tractor S.C.|Tractor]]
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] 3rd place{{Cref2|Note IRN}}
|5th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] champions
|7th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|7th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|[[2017 Emir of Qatar Cup]] winners<br />[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] runners-up
|[[2017 Emir of Qatar Cup]] winners<br />[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] runners-up
|13th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|13th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Lokomotiv Tashkent FK|Lokomotiv Tashkent]]}}
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Rayyan SC|Al-Rayyan]]
|[[2017 Uzbek League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 3rd place
|8th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|6th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya]]
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Lokomotiv Tashkent FK|Lokomotiv Tashkent]]
|[[2016–17 Iraqi Premier League]] champions
|[[2017 Uzbek League]] champions and [[2017 Uzbekistan Cup]] winners
|6th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|4th
|}
|[[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]]
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|+[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants: Entering in [[#Play-off round|play-off round]]
|-
|-
!width=25%|Team
!colspan=4|[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants
!width=60%|Qualifying method
|-
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Play-off round|play-off round]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]]
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]]
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] 4th place{{Cref2|Note UAE}}
|[[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] 4th place{{Cref2|Note UAE}}
|13th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|13th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]
|[[2016–17 Saudi Professional League]] 4th place
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] 4th place{{Cref2|Note IRN}}
|7th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|11th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Gharafa SC|Al-Gharafa]]
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] runners-up
|9th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]]
|[[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] 3rd place
|5th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Preliminary round 2|preliminary round 2]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Rayyan SC|Al-Rayyan]]
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 3rd place
|8th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club|Al-Gharafa]]
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 5th place{{Cref2|Note QAT}}
|[[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 5th place{{Cref2|Note QAT}}
|9th {{small|([[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]])}}
|9th
|[[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[FC Nasaf|Nasaf Qarshi]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[FC Nasaf|Nasaf Qarshi]]
|[[2017 Uzbekistan Cup]] winners<br />(Possible [[2017 Uzbek League]] runners-up)
|[[2017 Uzbek League]] runners-up
|6th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|6th/<br />TBD
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />TBD
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[FC Nasaf|Nasaf Qarshi]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Pakhtakor Tashkent FK|Pakhtakor]]
|[[2017 Uzbek League]] runners-up or 3rd place
|[[2017 Uzbek League]] 3rd place
|14th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|6th/<br />TBD
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />TBD
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawraa]]
|[[2016–17 Iraq FA Cup]] winners
|4th
|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]
|-
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Preliminary round 1|preliminary round 1]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Kuwait SC|Al-Kuwait]]
|[[2016–17 Kuwaiti Premier League]] champions
|6th
|[[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]]
|-
|{{flagicon|SYR}} [[Al-Jaish SC (Syria)|Al-Jaish]]
|[[2016–17 Syrian Premier League]] champions
|3rd
|[[2005 AFC Champions League|2005]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Al-Faisaly SC (Amman)|Al-Faisaly]]
|{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Al-Faisaly SC (Amman)|Al-Faisaly]]
|[[2016–17 Jordan League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Jordan League]] champions
|2nd {{small|({{nowrap|[[2002–03 AFC Champions League|2002–03]]}})}}
|2nd
|{{nowrap|[[2002–03 AFC Champions League|2002–03]]}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Aizawl F.C.|Aizawl]]
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Aizawl F.C.|Aizawl]]
|[[2016–17 I-League]] champions
|[[2016–17 I-League]] champions
|1st
|1st
|none
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Malkiya Club|Malkiya]]
|{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Malkiya Club|Malkiya]]
|[[2016–17 Bahrain First Division League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Bahrain First Division League]] champions
|1st
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|LIB}} [[Al-Ahed SC|Al-Ahed]]
|[[2016–17 Lebanese Premier League]] champions
|1st
|none
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|-
|+East Region
|+East Region
|+[[#Group stage|Group stage]] direct entrants (Groups E–H)
|-
|-
!Team
!width=25%|Team
!Qualifying method
!width=60%|Qualifying method
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
!App
!Last App
|-
!colspan=4|[[#Group stage|Group stage]] direct entrants (Groups E–H)
|-
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]}}
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|[[2017 K League Classic]] champions
|[[2017 K League Classic]] champions
|11th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|11th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}}
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]]
|[[2017 Korean FA Cup]] winners
|[[2017 Korean FA Cup]] winners
|6th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|
|
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeju United FC|Jeju United]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeju United FC|Jeju United]]
|[[2017 K League Classic]] runners-up
|[[2017 K League Classic]] runners-up
|3rd {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|3rd
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]<br />or [[Kawasaki Frontale]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kawasaki Frontale]]
|[[2017 J1 League]] champions
|[[2017 J1 League]] champions
|6th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|8th/<br />6th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-TBD
|{{flagicon|JPN}}
|[[2017 Emperor's Cup]] winners
|
|
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]<br />or [[Kawasaki Frontale]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Cerezo Osaka]]
|[[2017 J1 League]] runners-up
|[[2017 Emperor's Cup]] winners<br />[[2017 J1 League]] 3rd place
|3rd {{small|([[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]])}}
|8th/<br />6th/<br />TBD
|-
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />TBD
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|[[2017 J1 League]] runners-up
|8th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] champions
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] champions
|7th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|7th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai SIPG F.C.|Shanghai SIPG]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C.|Shanghai Shenhua]]
|[[2017 Chinese FA Cup]] winners<br />(Possible [[2017 Chinese Super League]] runners-up)
|[[2017 Chinese FA Cup]] winners
|8th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|3rd/<br />TBD
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />TBD
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sydney FC]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sydney FC]]
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] premiers<br />[[2017 A-League Grand Final]] winners
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] premiers and [[2017 A-League Grand Final]] winners
|4th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|4th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] regular season runners-up
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] regular season runners-up
|6th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|6th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Buriram United F.C.|Buriram United]]
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Buriram United F.C.|Buriram United]]
|[[2017 Thai League T1]] champions
|[[2017 Thai League T1]] champions
|7th {{small|([[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]])}}
|7th
|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]
|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]
|[[2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League]] champions
|[[2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League]] champions
|4th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|4th
|}
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|-
!colspan=4|[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants
|+[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants: Entering in [[#Play-off round|play-off round]]
|-
|-
!width=25%|Team
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Play-off round|play-off round]]
!width=60%|Qualifying method
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|[[2017 K League Classic]] 3rd place
|[[2017 K League Classic]] 3rd place
|9th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|9th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kawasaki Frontale]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashiwa Reysol]]
|[[2017 J1 League]] 3rd place
|[[2017 J1 League]] 4th place
|4th {{small|([[2015 AFC Champions League|2015]])}}
|6th/<br />TBD
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />TBD
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai SIPG F.C.|Shanghai SIPG]]<br />or [[Tianjin Quanjian F.C.|Tianjin Quanjian]]
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai SIPG F.C.|Shanghai SIPG]]
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] runners-up or 3rd place
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] runners-up
|3rd {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|3rd/<br />1st
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]/<br />none
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin Quanjian F.C.|Tianjin Quanjian]]<br />or TBD
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin Quanjian F.C.|Tianjin Quanjian]]
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] 3rd place or 4th place
|[[2017 Chinese Super League]] 3rd place
|1st/<br />TBD
|1st
|}
|none/<br />TBD
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|+[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants: Entering in [[#Preliminary round 2|preliminary round 2]]
|-
|-
!width=25%|Team
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Preliminary round 2|preliminary round 2]]
!width=60%|Qualifying method
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] regular season 3rd place
|[[2016–17 A-League#Regular season|2016–17 A-League]] regular season 3rd place
|5th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|5th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|THA}}
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Chiangrai United F.C.|Chiangrai United]]
|[[2017 Thai FA Cup]] winners
|[[2017 Thai FA Cup]] winners
|
|1st
|
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Muangthong United F.C.|Muangthong United]]
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Muangthong United F.C.|Muangthong United]]
|[[2017 Thai League T1]] runners-up
|[[2017 Thai League T1]] runners-up
|7th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|7th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Eastern Sports Club|Eastern]]
|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Eastern Sports Club|Eastern]]
|[[2016–17 Hong Kong Season Play-off]] winners
|[[2016–17 Hong Kong season play-off]] winners
|2nd {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|2nd
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|VIE}}
|{{flagicon|VIE}} [[FLC Thanh Hóa F.C.|FLC Thanh Hóa]]
|[[2017 V.League 1]] champions
|[[2017 V.League 1]] runners-up{{Cref2|Note VIE}}
|
|1st
|
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.|Johor Darul Ta'zim]]
|{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.|Johor Darul Ta'zim]]
|[[2017 Malaysia Super League]] champions
|[[2017 Malaysia Super League]] champions
|4th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|4th
|}
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%;"
|+[[#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-off]] participants: Entering in [[#Preliminary round 1|preliminary round 1]]
|-
|-
!width=25%|Team
!colspan=4|Entering in [[#Preliminary round 1|preliminary round 1]]
!width=60%|Qualifying method
!width=15%|App {{small|(Last)}}
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Bali United F.C.|Bali United]]
|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Bali United F.C.|Bali United]]
|[[2017 Liga 1|2017 Indonesia League 1]] runners-up{{Cref2|Note IDN}}
|[[2017 Liga 1]] runners-up{{Cref2|Note IDN}}
|1st
|1st
|none
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|MYA}} [[Shan United F.C.|Shan United]]
|{{flagicon|MYA}} [[Shan United F.C.|Shan United]]
|[[2017 Myanmar National League]] champions
|[[2017 Myanmar National League]] champions
|1st
|1st
|none
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|PHI}}
|{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Ceres–Negros F.C.|Ceres–Negros]]
|[[2017 Philippines Football League]] champions
|[[2017 Philippines Football League]] champions
|
|1st
|
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines Rovers]]
|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines Rovers]]
|[[2017 S.League]] runners-up{{Cref2|Note SIN}}
|[[2017 S.League]] runners-up{{Cref2|Note SIN}}
|4th {{small|([[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]])}}
|4th
|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
Line 502: Line 432:
;Notes
;Notes
{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}
{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}
{{Cnote2|Note IDN|'''Indonesia (IDN):''' [[Bhayangkara F.C.|Bhayangkara]], the [[2017 Liga 1|2017 Indonesia League 1]] champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, [[Bali United F.C.|Bali United]], the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.<ref>{{cite web|title=PSSI Tolak Banding Klub Terkait Lisensi AFC|language=Indonesian|trans-title=PSSI reject club appeals related to AFC license|url=http://www.goal.com/id/berita/pssi-tolak-banding-klub-terkait-lisensi-afc/1oostir7522cj1s11ywio6rtrc|publisher=[[Goal (website)|Goal.com]]|date=31 October 2017|accessdate=1 November 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|Note IDN|'''Indonesia (IDN):''' [[Bhayangkara F.C.|Bhayangkara]], the [[2017 Liga 1]] champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, [[Bali United F.C.|Bali United]], the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.<ref>{{cite web|title=PSSI Tolak Banding Klub Terkait Lisensi AFC|language=id|trans-title=PSSI reject club appeals related to AFC license|url=http://www.goal.com/id/berita/pssi-tolak-banding-klub-terkait-lisensi-afc/1oostir7522cj1s11ywio6rtrc|publisher=[[Goal (website)|Goal.com]]|date=31 October 2017|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|Note QAT|'''Qatar (QAT):''' [[El Jaish SC|El Jaish]], the [[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 4th place, were merged into Lekhwiya to form [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]] after the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club|url=http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/17041021590084/Lekhwiya-Al-Jaish-Clubs-to-Merge-into-One-Club-under-the-Name-of-Al-Duhail-Sports-Club|website=www.qna.org.qa|accessdate=11 April 2017}}</ref> As a result, [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club|Al-Gharafa]], the league 5th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.}}
{{Cnote2|Note IRN|'''Iran (IRN):''' [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]], the [[2016–17 Hazfi Cup]] winners, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, [[Tractor S.C.|Tractor]], the [[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League]] 3rd place, entered the groups stage instead of the qualifying play-offs, while [[Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]], the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.}}
{{Cnote2|Note QAT|'''Qatar (QAT):''' [[El Jaish SC|El Jaish]], the [[2016–17 Qatar Stars League]] 4th place, were merged into Lekhwiya to form [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]] after the 2016–17 season. As a result, [[Al-Gharafa SC|Al-Gharafa]], the league 5th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club|url=http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/17041021590084/Lekhwiya-Al-Jaish-Clubs-to-Merge-into-One-Club-under-the-Name-of-Al-Duhail-Sports-Club|website=www.qna.org.qa|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061447/http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/17041021590084/Lekhwiya-Al-Jaish-Clubs-to-Merge-into-One-Club-under-the-Name-of-Al-Duhail-Sports-Club|archive-date=2017-04-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|Note SIN|'''Singapore (SIN):''' [[Albirex Niigata Singapore FC|Albirex Niigata Singapore]], the [[2017 S.League]] champions, is a satellite team of Japanese club [[Albirex Niigata]] and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, [[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines Rovers]], the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.}}
{{Cnote2|Note SIN|'''Singapore (SIN):''' [[Albirex Niigata Singapore FC|Albirex Niigata Singapore]], the [[2017 S.League]] champions, is a satellite team of Japanese club [[Albirex Niigata]] and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, [[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines Rovers]], the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.}}
{{Cnote2|Note UAE|'''United Arab Emirates (UAE):''' [[Al-Ahli Dubai F.C.|Al-Ahli]], the [[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] 3rd place, merged with [[Al Shabab (Dubai)|Al-Shabab]] and [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]] to form [[Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC|Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai]] after the 2016–17 season, and were excluded from the AFC Champions League for failing to be in existence for the necessary three year requirement. As a result, [[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]], the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs (initially they failed to obtain an AFC license but later won their appeal).<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Ain ruled out of next year’s ACL|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/football/al-ain-ruled-out-of-next-year-s-acl-1.2107520|publisher=[[Gulf News]]|date=17 October 2017|accessdate=20 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Al Ain cleared to play in AFC Champions League|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/football/al-ain-cleared-to-play-in-afc-champions-league-1.2116375|publisher=Gulf News|date=31 October 2017|accessdate=1 November 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|Note UAE|'''United Arab Emirates (UAE):''' [[Al-Ahli Dubai F.C.|Al-Ahli]], the [[2016–17 UAE Pro-League]] 3rd place, merged with [[Al Shabab (Dubai)|Al-Shabab]] and [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]] to form [[Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC|Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai]] after the 2016–17 season, and were excluded from the AFC Champions League for failing to be in existence for the necessary three year requirement. As a result, [[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]], the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs (initially they failed to obtain an AFC licence but later won their appeal).<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Ain ruled out of next year's ACL|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/football/al-ain-ruled-out-of-next-year-s-acl-1.2107520|publisher=[[Gulf News]]|date=17 October 2017|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Al Ain cleared to play in AFC Champions League|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/football/al-ain-cleared-to-play-in-afc-champions-league-1.2116375|publisher=Gulf News|date=31 October 2017|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2|Note VIE|'''Vietnam (VIE):''' [[QNK Quảng Nam F.C.|Quảng Nam]], the [[2017 V.League 1]] champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, [[FLC Thanh Hóa F.C.|FLC Thanh Hóa]], the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/vn/tintuc/afc-flc-thanh-hoa-thay-quang-nam-da-afc-champions-league/12d01gdq7ktixzy1kfasvx8a2|title=AFC: FLC THANH HÓA THAY QUẢNG NAM ĐÁ AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE|publisher=Goal.com|date=30 November 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2 End}}
{{Cnote2 End}}

{{Location map+|AFC|width=1000|float=left|caption=Location of teams of the '''2018 AFC Champions League'''.<br />[[File:Red pog.svg|8px]] West Region<br />[[File:Green pog.svg|8px]] East Region<br />(p) Qualifying play-off participants|places=
<!--United Arab Emirates-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=24.452756|long=54.392109|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]}}<br />{{nowrap|[[Al Wahda FC|Al-Wahda]]}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=25.218889|long=55.317222|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al-Wasl F.C.|Al-Wasl]]}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=24.245047|long=55.717067|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}
<!--Saudi Arabia-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=24.78842|long=46.839159|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=21.55029|long=39.139765|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]]}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
<!--Iran-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.724366|long=51.275597|label_size=70|label=[[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]<br />[[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=38.026667|long=46.296389|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Tractor S.C.|Tractor]]}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=32.63333|long=51.65000|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
<!--Qatar-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=25.25|long=51.25|label_size=70|label='''Qatar'''|mark=Red pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=10|long=55|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Teams from '''Qatar''':}}<br />[[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]<br />{{nowrap|[[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]}}<br/ >{{nowrap|[[Al-Rayyan SC|Al-Rayyan]]}}<br />{{nowrap|[[Al-Gharafa SC|Al-Gharafa]] (p)}}|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|position=bottom}}
<!--Uzbekistan-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=41.279806|long=69.212537|label_size=70|label=[[Lokomotiv Tashkent FK|Lokomotiv]]<br />{{nowrap|[[Pakhtakor Tashkent FK|Pakhtakor]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=38.83830|long=65.81388|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[FC Nasaf|Nasaf]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--Jordan-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=31.985102|long=35.902847|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Al-Faisaly SC (Amman)|Al-Faisaly]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}
<!--India-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=23.714281|long=92.735391|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Aizawl F.C.|Aizawl]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}
<!--Bahrain-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=26.100833|long=50.487778|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Malkiya Club|Malkiya]] (p)}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--South Korea-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.868111|long=127.064444|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk HM]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.55|long=129.316667|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan H]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg |position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=33.285758|long=126.549156|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Jeju United FC|Jeju U]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg |position=left}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=37.286278|long=127.036889|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Suwon Samsung Bluewings|Suwon SB]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
<!--Japan-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.585956|long=139.652689|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Kawasaki Frontale|Kawasaki F]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.991744|long=140.640525|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Kashima Antlers|Kashima A]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=34.615278|long=135.516667|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Cerezo Osaka|C Osaka]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=35.8485|long=139.975149|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Kashiwa Reysol|Kashiwa R]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--China-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=23.140439|long=113.319297|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou E]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=31.2387|long=121.4892|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C.|Shanghai Sh]]}}<br />{{nowrap|[[Shanghai SIPG F.C.|Shanghai SIPG]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=39.006941|long=117.351801|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Tianjin Quanjian F.C.|Tianjin Q]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
<!--Australia-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=-33.889167|long=151.225278|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Sydney FC|Sydney]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=-37.825278|long=144.983889|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=-27.464722|long=153.009444|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
<!--Thailand-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=14.965833|long=103.094444|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Buriram United F.C.|Buriram U]]}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}
{{location map~|AFC|lat=19.956944|long=99.874722|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Chiangrai United F.C.|Chiangrai U]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=13.917989|long=100.547411|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Muangthong United F.C.|Muangthong U]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
<!--Hong Kong-->
{{location map~|AFC|lat=22.27350|long=114.18815|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]<br />[[Eastern Sports Club|Eastern]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
<!--Vietnam-->
{{location map~|AFC|lat=19.799167|long=105.772778|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[FLC Thanh Hóa F.C.|Thanh Hóa]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--Malaysia-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=1.765589|long=103.639526|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.|Johor DT]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--Indonesia-->
{{location map~|AFC|lat=-8.5466689|long=115.3041087|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Bali United F.C.|Bali U]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
<!--Myanmar-->
{{location map~|AFC|lat=20.778333|long=97.037778|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Shan United F.C.|Shan U]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}
<!--Philippines-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=10.641376|long=122.975464|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Ceres–Negros F.C.|Ceres–Negros]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=left}}
<!--Singapore-->
{{Location map~|AFC|lat=1.309845|long=103.763015|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|[[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines R]] (p)}}|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}
}}
{{clear}}


==Schedule==
==Schedule==
The schedule of the competition is as follows.<ref name="calendar">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_competitions_calendar_2018_21112017.pdf|title=AFC Competitions Calendar 2018|publisher=AFC|date=15 November 2017}}</ref>
The schedule of the competition was as follows.<ref name="calendar">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-competition-calendar-2018|title=AFC Competitions Calendar 2018|publisher=AFC|date=11 January 2018}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Line 533: Line 528:
|rowspan=6|Group stage
|rowspan=6|Group stage
|Matchday 1
|Matchday 1
|rowspan=7|TBA December 2017
|rowspan=7|6 December 2017
|colspan=2|12–14 February 2018
|colspan=2|12–14 February 2018
|-
|-
Line 557: Line 552:
|-
|-
|Quarter-finals
|Quarter-finals
|rowspan=3|TBA May/June 2018
|rowspan=3|23 May 2018
|27–29 August 2018
|27–29 August 2018
|17–19 September 2018
|17–19 September 2018
|-
|-
|Semi-finals
|Semi-finals
|1–3 October 2018
|2–3 October 2018
|22–24 October 2018
|23–24 October 2018
|-
|-
|Final
|Final
|3 November 2018
|3 November 2018
|10 November 2018
|10 November 2018
|}

==Qualifying play-offs==
{{main|2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs}}
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs|Format}}
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs|Bracket}}

===Preliminary round 1===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs|Preliminary round 1}}

===Preliminary round 2===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs|Preliminary round 2}}

===Play-off round===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs|Play-off round}}

==Group stage==
{{main|2018 AFC Champions League group stage}}
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Draw}}
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Format}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Tiebreakers
|-
|{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Tiebreakers}}
|}

===Group A===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group A|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group B===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group B|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group C===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group C|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group D===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group D|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group E===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group E|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group F===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group F|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group G===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group G|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

===Group H===
{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group H|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

==Knockout stage==
{{main|2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage}}
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Format}}

===Bracket===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Bracket}}

===Round of 16===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Round of 16}}

===Quarter-finals===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Quarter-finals}}

===Semi-finals===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Semi-finals}}

===Final===
{{#lst:2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Final}}

==Awards==
=== Main awards ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Award
!Player
!Team
|-
!Most Valuable Player<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/yuma-suzuki-of-kashima-named-2018-mvp|title=Yuma Suzuki of Kashima named 2018 MVP|publisher=AFC|date=10 November 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuma Suzuki]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
!Top Goalscorer<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-sadd-s-bounedjah-bags-top-scorer-award|title=Al Sadd's Bounedjah bags Top Scorer Award|publisher=AFC|date=10 November 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
!Fair Play Award
|—
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
!Best Goal<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/archive/2018/latest/news/vote-for-your-best-acl2018-goal|title=Kitchee's Cheng winner of Best #ACL2018 Goal|publisher=AFC|date=22 November 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Cheng Chin Lung]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]
|}

=== All-Star Squad ===
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/migration/a/f/afc-champions-league-2018-technical-report |title=AFC Champions League 2018 Technical Report |publisher=AFC |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Player
!Team
|-
|rowspan="3" align=center|Goalkeeper
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kwoun Sun-tae]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Alireza Beiranvand]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Shin Hwa-yong]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=5|Defenders
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Abdelkarim Hassan]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Rouzbeh Cheshmi]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Gen Shoji]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Jalal Hosseini]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jung Seung-hyun]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=8|Midfielders
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Nam Tae-hee]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]
|-
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Léo Silva]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Kamal Kamyabinia]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kento Misao]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Bashar Resan]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Park Jong-woo]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
|{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Elvis Sarić]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=8|Forwards
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuma Suzuki]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NGA}} [[Godwin Mensha]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Serginho (footballer, born March 1995)|Serginho]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Shin-wook]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Alipour]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Alexandre Pato]]
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin Tianhai F.C.|Tianjin Quanjian]]
|-
|{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|}

=== Opta Best XI ===
Source:<ref name="Best XI">{{cite news|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/archive/2018/latest/news/the-best-acl2018-xi-announced|title=The Best ACL2018 XI announced!|publisher=AFC|date=9 August 2020|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Position
!Player
!Team
|-
|align=center|Goalkeeper
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Alireza Beiranvand]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=4|Defenders
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Li Xuepeng]]
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Shoja' Khalilzadeh]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Jalal Hosseini]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Yong (footballer, born 1986)|Lee Yong]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3|Midfielders
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Goulart]]
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Serginho (footballer, born March 1995)|Serginho]]
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3|Forwards
|{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Youssef El-Arabi]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]
|}

=== Fans' Best XI ===
Source:<ref name="Best XI"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Position
!Player
!Team
|-
|align=center|Goalkeeper
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Alireza Beiranvand]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=4|Defenders
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Abdelkarim Hassan]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Shoja' Khalilzadeh]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Ró-Ró]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Voria Ghafouri]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3|Midfielders
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Farshid Esmaeili]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Siamak Nemati]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3|Forwards
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Alipour]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
|{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Mame Baba Thiam]]
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|}

==Top scorers==
{{smalldiv|{{legend|silver|Team eliminated / inactive for this round.}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{legend|#DDDDDD|Player was not in the team but team still active for this round.}}}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
!Rank
!Player
!Team
!{{Tooltip|MD1|Group stage Matchday 1}}
!{{Tooltip|MD2|Group stage Matchday 2}}
!{{Tooltip|MD3|Group stage Matchday 3}}
!{{Tooltip|MD4|Group stage Matchday 4}}
!{{Tooltip|MD5|Group stage Matchday 5}}
!{{Tooltip|MD6|Group stage Matchday 6}}
!{{Tooltip|2R1|Round of 16 1st leg}}
!{{Tooltip|2R2|Round of 16 2nd leg}}
!{{Tooltip|QF1|Quarter-finals 1st leg}}
!{{Tooltip|QF2|Quarter-finals 2nd leg}}
!{{Tooltip|SF1|Semi-finals 1st leg}}
!{{Tooltip|SF2|Semi-finals 2nd leg}}
!&thinsp;{{Tooltip|F1|Final 1st leg}}&thinsp;
!&thinsp;{{Tooltip|F2|Final 2nd leg}}&thinsp;
!Total
|-
!1
|align=left|{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|2||2|| ||1||2|| || ||2||2||1|| ||1||bgcolor="silver" colspan=2|
!13
|-
!rowspan=2|2
|align=left|{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|2|| || ||1||1||1|| || ||2|| ||1||1||bgcolor="silver" colspan=2|
!rowspan=2|9
|-
|align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Youssef El-Arabi]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]
| ||2||2||2|| || ||1||2|| || ||bgcolor="silver" colspan=4|
|-
!rowspan=2|4
|align=left|{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Mame Baba Thiam]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
| ||1||2||1|| || || ||3||bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan=2| ||bgcolor="silver" colspan=4|
!rowspan=2|7
|-
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Goulart]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|1|| ||4|| || || || ||2||bgcolor="silver" colspan=6|
|-
!rowspan=3|6
|align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Marcus Berg]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al-Ain]]
| ||1||1|| ||2||2|| || ||bgcolor="silver" colspan=6|
!rowspan=3|6
|-
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Shin-wook]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
| || ||3||1|| ||1|| || || ||1||bgcolor="silver" colspan=4|
|-
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Romarinho (footballer, born December 1990)|Romarinho]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|1|| || ||1||1||1||1||1||bgcolor="silver" colspan=6|
|-
!rowspan=7|9
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Carlos Adriano de Sousa Cruz|Adriano]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
| ||3|| ||1|| || || || || ||1||bgcolor="silver" colspan=4|
!rowspan=7|5
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Morteza Tabrizi]]
| align="left" |{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]] (GS & R16)<br />{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] (QF)
| ||1||2|| || ||1|| || || ||1|| colspan="4" bgcolor="silver" |
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Serginho (footballer, born March 1995)|Serginho]]
| align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
| colspan="8" bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||1||1||1||1||1||
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Mabkhout]]
| align="left" |{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|1||1|| || ||2|| ||1|| || colspan="6" bgcolor="silver" |
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Muhannad Assiri]]
| align="left" |{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]]
|1||1|| || ||1|| ||1||1|| colspan="6" bgcolor="silver" |
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mehdi Taremi]]
| align="left" |{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Gharafa SC|Al-Gharafa]]
|1||2|| ||1|| ||1|| colspan="8" bgcolor="silver" |
|-
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Alipour]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|2|| ||1|| || || ||1|| || || ||1|| || ||
|}
{{small|Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).<ref name="regulations"/>}}

{{small|Source: AFC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/stats|title=Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2018 AFC Champions League (Group Stage, Round of 16, Knock-out Stage)|publisher=AFC|work=the-afc.com}}</ref>}}

==Player of the week awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan=2|Matchday
!colspan=2|Toyota Player of the Week
|-
!Player
!Team
|-
!colspan=3|Group stage
|-
!Matchday 1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md1-toyota-player-of-the-week-leroy-george|title=ACL2018 MD1 Toyota Player of the Week: Leroy George|publisher=AFC|date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Leroy George]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|-
!Matchday 2<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md2-toyota-player-of-the-week-oscar|title=ACL2018 MD2 Toyota Player of the Week: Oscar|publisher=AFC|date=23 February 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Oscar (footballer, born 1991)|Oscar]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai SIPG F.C.|Shanghai SIPG]]
|-
!Matchday 3<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md3-toyota-player-of-the-week-ricardo-goulart|title=ACL2018 MD3 Toyota Player of the Week: Ricardo Goulart|publisher=AFC|date=8 March 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Goulart]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|-
!Matchday 4<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md4-toyota-player-of-the-week-ali-khaseif|title=ACL2018 MD4 Toyota Player of the Week: Ali Khaseif|publisher=AFC|date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Khasif]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|-
!Matchday 5<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md5-toyota-player-of-the-week-mislav-orsic|title=ACL2018 MD5 Toyota Player of the Week: Mislav Orsic|publisher=AFC|date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Mislav Oršić]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]]
|-
!Matchday 6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-md6-toyota-player-of-the-week-alan|title=ACL2018 MD6 Toyota Player of the Week: Alan|publisher=AFC|date=20 April 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Alan Carvalho|Alan]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]
|-
!colspan=3|Knockout stage
|-
!Round of 16 1st leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/acl2018-round-of-16-first-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-edgar|title=ACL2018 Round of 16 First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Edgar|publisher=AFC|date=11 May 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Edgar Bruno da Silva|Edgar]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Buriram United F.C.|Buriram United]]
|-
!Round of 16 2nd leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/round-of-16-second-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-mame-thiam|title=Round of 16, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Mame Thiam|publisher=AFC|date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Mame Baba Thiam]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|-
!Quarter-finals 1st leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/quarter-final-first-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-dejan-damjanovic|title=Quarter-final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Dejan Damjanovic|publisher=AFC|date=30 August 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
!Quarter-finals 2nd leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/quarter-final-second-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-akram-afif|title=Quarter-final, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Akram Afif|publisher=AFC|date=20 September 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Akram Afif]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|-
!Semi-finals 1st leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/semi-final-first-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-alireza-beiranvand|title=Semi-Final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Alireza Beiranvand|publisher=AFC|date=5 October 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Alireza Beiranvand]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|-
!Semi-finals 2nd leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/semi-finals-second-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-dejan-damjanovic|title=Semi-finals, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Dejan Damjanovic|publisher=AFC|date=26 October 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|-
!Final 1st leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/finals-first-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-serginho|title=Final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Serginho|publisher=AFC|date=November 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Serginho (footballer, born March 1995)|Serginho]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|-
!Final 2nd leg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/sponsor/playeroftheweek/finals-second-leg-toyota-player-of-the-week-kwoun-sun-tae|title=Final, 2nd Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Kwoun Sun-tae|publisher=AFC|date=17 November 2018}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kwoun Sun-tae]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|}
|}


Line 578: Line 1,008:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.the-afc.com/competition/afc-champions-league AFC Champions League], the-AFC.com
*{{Official website|http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/|name=AFC Champions League}}, the-AFC.com
*[http://stats.the-afc.com/tournaments/223 AFC Champions League 2018], stats.the-AFC.com


{{AFC Champions League seasons}}
{{AFC Champions League seasons}}
Line 584: Line 1,015:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Afc Champions League 2018}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Afc Champions League 2018}}
[[Category:2018 in Asian football|1]]
[[Category:2018 AFC Champions League| ]]
<!--[[Category:2018 AFC Champions League| ]]-->
[[Category:2018 in AFC football|1]]
[[Category:AFC Champions League seasons|2017]]
[[Category:Scheduled association football competitions]]

Latest revision as of 20:23, 31 December 2024

2018 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
16–30 January 2018
Competition proper:
12 February – 10 November 2018
TeamsCompetition proper: 32
Total: 46 (from 20 associations)
Final positions
ChampionsKashima Antlers (1st title)
Runners-upPersepolis
Tournament statistics
Matches played126
Goals scored364 (2.89 per match)
Attendance1,876,986 (14,897 per match)
Top scorer(s)Baghdad Bounedjah (13 goals)
Best player(s)Yuma Suzuki
Fair play awardPersepolis
2017
2019

The 2018 AFC Champions League was the 37th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 16th under the current AFC Champions League title.

Kashima Antlers won the title for the first time, defeating Persepolis in the final, and qualified as the AFC representative at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.[1]

Urawa Red Diamonds were the title holders, but they were unable to defend their title as they finished seventh in the 2017 J1 League and were eliminated in the fourth round of the 2017 Emperor's Cup, thus did not qualify for the tournament. It marked the second season in a row without title holders after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were disqualified in 2017 as a result of their involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2016.

Association team allocation

[edit]

The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014,[2] which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014.[3] The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the associate member Northern Mariana Islands) are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2016 AFC rankings (Entry Manual Article 2.2):[4]

  • The associations were split into two regions:
  • In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
  • The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
  • The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as AFC Cup group stage slots):
    • The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot.
    • The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots.
    • The associations ranked 5th each get one direct slot and two play-off slots.
    • The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
    • The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot.
  • The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division.
  • If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
  • If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.

For the 2018 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking published on 30 November 2016,[5] which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's FIFA World Rankings, during the period between 2013 and 2016.[4][6]

Participation for 2018 AFC Champions League
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    Australia (AUS): The top division run by the Football Federation Australia, the A-League, only have nine Australia-based teams in the 2016–17 season, so Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots (Entry Manual 5.4).[4]
  2. ^
    Iraq (IRQ): Iraq did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.[7]
  3. ^
    Kuwait (KUW): Kuwait could not enter due to FIFA's suspension of the Kuwait Football Association at the entry deadline.[8] (Even if its suspension were lifted, Kuwaiti clubs would not enter since Kuwait did not implement club licensing system.[7])
  4. ^
    Lebanon (LIB): Lebanon did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.[7]
  5. ^
    Saudi Arabia (KSA): Saudi Arabia had only two entries as Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, the 2016–17 Saudi Professional League 3rd place and 4th place, which would have entered the group stage and qualifying play-offs respectively, failed to obtain an AFC licence, and no other teams below them in the league were eligible to replace them, as all other licensed teams from Saudi Arabia finished in the bottom half of the league and did not meet the sporting criteria (Entry Manual 12.6).[4][7]
  6. ^
    Syria (SYR): Syria did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.[7]

Teams

[edit]

The following 46 teams from 20 associations entered the competition.

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.

Notes
  1. ^
    Indonesia (IDN): Bhayangkara, the 2017 Liga 1 champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, Bali United, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.[9]
  2. ^
    Iran (IRN): Naft Tehran, the 2016–17 Hazfi Cup winners, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, Tractor, the 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place, entered the groups stage instead of the qualifying play-offs, while Zob Ahan, the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.
  3. ^
    Qatar (QAT): El Jaish, the 2016–17 Qatar Stars League 4th place, were merged into Lekhwiya to form Al-Duhail after the 2016–17 season. As a result, Al-Gharafa, the league 5th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.[10]
  4. ^
    Singapore (SIN): Albirex Niigata Singapore, the 2017 S.League champions, is a satellite team of Japanese club Albirex Niigata and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Tampines Rovers, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.
  5. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al-Ahli, the 2016–17 UAE Pro-League 3rd place, merged with Al-Shabab and Dubai to form Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai after the 2016–17 season, and were excluded from the AFC Champions League for failing to be in existence for the necessary three year requirement. As a result, Al-Ain, the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs (initially they failed to obtain an AFC licence but later won their appeal).[11][12]
  6. ^
    Vietnam (VIE): Quảng Nam, the 2017 V.League 1 champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, FLC Thanh Hóa, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.[13]

Schedule

[edit]

The schedule of the competition was as follows.[14]

Stage Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary stage Preliminary round 1 No draw 16 January 2018
Preliminary round 2 23 January 2018
Play-off stage Play-off round 30 January 2018
Group stage Matchday 1 6 December 2017 12–14 February 2018
Matchday 2 19–21 February 2018
Matchday 3 5–7 March 2018
Matchday 4 12–14 March 2018
Matchday 5 2–4 April 2018
Matchday 6 16–18 April 2018
Knockout stage Round of 16 7–9 May 2018 14–16 May 2018
Quarter-finals 23 May 2018 27–29 August 2018 17–19 September 2018
Semi-finals 2–3 October 2018 23–24 October 2018
Final 3 November 2018 10 November 2018

Qualifying play-offs

[edit]

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.2). The eight winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.[1]

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same play-off.[15]

Preliminary round 1

[edit]
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Bali United Indonesia 3–1 Singapore Tampines Rovers
Shan United Myanmar 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Philippines Ceres–Negros

Preliminary round 2

[edit]
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Eastern Hong Kong 2–4 Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Muangthong United Thailand 5–2 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Chiangrai United Thailand 2–1 (a.e.t.) Indonesia Bali United
Brisbane Roar Australia 2–3 Philippines Ceres–Negros

Play-off round

[edit]
Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 2–0 Bahrain Malkiya
Zob Ahan Iran 3–1 India Aizawl
Al-Gharafa Qatar 2–1 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan 5–1 Jordan Al-Faisaly
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea 5–1 Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Kashiwa Reysol Japan 3–0 Thailand Muangthong United
Shanghai SIPG China 1–0 Thailand Chiangrai United
Tianjin Quanjian China 2–0 Philippines Ceres–Negros

Group stage

[edit]

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.[16][15] 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. 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.

Group A

[edit]

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
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head results: Al-Jazira 3–2 Al-Gharafa, Al-Gharafa 2–3 Al-Jazira.

Group B

[edit]

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
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head results: Zob Ahan 2–0 Lokomotiv Tashkent, Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–1 Zob Ahan.

Group C

[edit]

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

Group D

[edit]

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

Group E

[edit]

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

Group F

[edit]

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

Group G

[edit]

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

Group H

[edit]

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

Knockout stage

[edit]

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 11.3).[1]

Bracket

[edit]

The bracket was decided after the draw for the quarter-finals, which was held on 23 May 2018, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[17][18][19]

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                
Japan Kashima Antlers 3 1 4
China Shanghai SIPG 1 2 3
Japan Kashima Antlers 2 3 5
China Tianjin Quanjian 0 0 0
China Tianjin Quanjian (a) 0 2 2
China Guangzhou Evergrande 0 2 2
Japan Kashima Antlers 3 3 6
East Region
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2 3 5
Thailand Buriram United 3 0 3
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 2 4
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0 3 (2)
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) 3 0 (4)
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 1 0 1
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 3 3
Japan Kashima Antlers 2 0 2
Iran Persepolis 0 0 0
Iran Zob Ahan 1 1 2
Iran Esteghlal 0 3 3
Iran Esteghlal 1 2 3
Qatar Al-Sadd 3 2 5
Qatar Al-Sadd 2 2 4
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1 2 3
Qatar Al-Sadd 0 1 1
West Region
Iran Persepolis 1 1 2
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 2 1 3
Qatar Al-Duhail 4 4 8
Qatar Al-Duhail 1 1 2
Iran Persepolis 0 3 3
United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 3 1 4
Iran Persepolis (a) 2 2 4

Round of 16

[edit]

In the round of 16, the winners of one group played the runners-up of another group from the same region, with the group winners hosting the second leg, and the matchups determined by the group stage draw.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates 4–4 (a) Iran Persepolis 3–2 1–2
Al-Sadd Qatar 4–3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 2–1 2–2
Zob Ahan Iran 2–3 Iran Esteghlal 1–0 1–3
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 3–8 Qatar Al-Duhail 2–4 1–4
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Tianjin Quanjian China 2–2 (a) China Guangzhou Evergrande 0–0 2–2
Buriram United Thailand 3–4 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–2 0–2
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 1–3 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–0 0–3
Kashima Antlers Japan 4–3 China Shanghai SIPG 3–1 1–2

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 23 May 2018.[19] In the quarter-finals, the four teams from the West Region played in two ties, and the four teams from the East Region played in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs decided by draw, without any seeding or country protection.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Esteghlal Iran 3–5 Qatar Al-Sadd 1–3 2–2
Al-Duhail Qatar 2–3 Iran Persepolis 1–0 1–3
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Kashima Antlers Japan 5–0 China Tianjin Quanjian 2–0 3–0
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea 3–3 (2–4 p) South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–3 3–0 (a.e.t.)

Semi-finals

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In the semi-finals, the two quarter-final winners from the West Region played each other, and the two quarter-final winners from the East Region played each other, with the order of legs determined by the quarter-final draw.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Al-Sadd Qatar 1–2 Iran Persepolis 0–1 1–1
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Kashima Antlers Japan 6–5 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–2 3–3

Final

[edit]

In the final, the two semi-final winners played each other, with the order of legs (first leg hosted by team from the East Region, second leg hosted by team from the West Region) reversed from the previous season's final.

Kashima Antlers Japan2–0Iran Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 35,022
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Persepolis Iran0–0Japan Kashima Antlers
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Kashima Antlers won 2–0 on aggregate.

Awards

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Main awards

[edit]
Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player[20] Japan Yuma Suzuki Japan Kashima Antlers
Top Goalscorer[21] Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Qatar Al-Sadd
Fair Play Award Iran Persepolis
Best Goal[22] Hong Kong Cheng Chin Lung Hong Kong Kitchee

All-Star Squad

[edit]

Source:[23]

Position Player Team
Goalkeeper South Korea Kwoun Sun-tae Japan Kashima Antlers
Iran Alireza Beiranvand Iran Persepolis
South Korea Shin Hwa-yong South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Defenders Qatar Abdelkarim Hassan Qatar Al-Sadd
Iran Rouzbeh Cheshmi Iran Esteghlal
Japan Gen Shoji Japan Kashima Antlers
Iran Jalal Hosseini Iran Persepolis
South Korea Jung Seung-hyun Japan Kashima Antlers
Midfielders South Korea Nam Tae-hee Qatar Al-Duhail
Brazil Léo Silva Japan Kashima Antlers
Spain Xavi Qatar Al-Sadd
Iran Kamal Kamyabinia Iran Persepolis
Japan Kento Misao Japan Kashima Antlers
Iraq Bashar Resan Iran Persepolis
South Korea Park Jong-woo South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Bosnia and Herzegovina Elvis Sarić South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Forwards Japan Yuma Suzuki Japan Kashima Antlers
Nigeria Godwin Mensha Iran Persepolis
Brazil Serginho Japan Kashima Antlers
South Korea Kim Shin-wook South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Iran Ali Alipour Iran Persepolis
Brazil Alexandre Pato China Tianjin Quanjian
Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Qatar Al-Sadd

Opta Best XI

[edit]

Source:[24]

Position Player Team
Goalkeeper Iran Alireza Beiranvand Iran Persepolis
Defenders China Li Xuepeng China Guangzhou Evergrande
Iran Shoja' Khalilzadeh Iran Persepolis
Iran Jalal Hosseini Iran Persepolis
South Korea Lee Yong South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielders Brazil Ricardo Goulart China Guangzhou Evergrande
Spain Xavi Qatar Al-Sadd
Brazil Serginho Japan Kashima Antlers
Forwards Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Qatar Al-Sadd
Morocco Youssef El-Arabi Qatar Al-Duhail

Fans' Best XI

[edit]

Source:[24]

Position Player Team
Goalkeeper Iran Alireza Beiranvand Iran Persepolis
Defenders Qatar Abdelkarim Hassan Qatar Al-Sadd
Iran Shoja' Khalilzadeh Iran Persepolis
Qatar Ró-Ró Qatar Al-Sadd
Iran Voria Ghafouri Iran Esteghlal
Midfielders Iran Farshid Esmaeili Iran Esteghlal
Spain Xavi Qatar Al-Sadd
Iran Siamak Nemati Iran Persepolis
Forwards Iran Ali Alipour Iran Persepolis
Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Qatar Al-Sadd
Senegal Mame Baba Thiam Iran Esteghlal

Top scorers

[edit]
  Team eliminated / inactive for this round.
  Player was not in the team but team still active for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 2R1 2R2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F1 F2 Total
1 Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Qatar Al-Sadd 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 13
2 Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 9
Morocco Youssef El-Arabi Qatar Al-Duhail 2 2 2 1 2
4 Senegal Mame Baba Thiam Iran Esteghlal 1 2 1 3 7
Brazil Ricardo Goulart China Guangzhou Evergrande 1 4 2
6 Sweden Marcus Berg United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 1 1 2 2 6
South Korea Kim Shin-wook South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3 1 1 1
Brazil Romarinho United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 1 1 1 1 1 1
9 Brazil Adriano South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3 1 1 5
Iran Morteza Tabrizi Iran Zob Ahan (GS & R16)
Iran Esteghlal (QF)
1 2 1 1
Brazil Serginho Japan Kashima Antlers 1 1 1 1 1
United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 1 1 2 1
Saudi Arabia Muhannad Assiri Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1 1 1 1 1
Iran Mehdi Taremi Qatar Al-Gharafa 1 2 1 1
Iran Ali Alipour Iran Persepolis 2 1 1 1

Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).[1]

Source: AFC[25]

Player of the week awards

[edit]
Matchday Toyota Player of the Week
Player Team
Group stage
Matchday 1[26] Netherlands Leroy George Australia Melbourne Victory
Matchday 2[27] Brazil Oscar China Shanghai SIPG
Matchday 3[28] Brazil Ricardo Goulart China Guangzhou Evergrande
Matchday 4[29] United Arab Emirates Ali Khasif United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
Matchday 5[30] Croatia Mislav Oršić South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
Matchday 6[31] Brazil Alan China Guangzhou Evergrande
Knockout stage
Round of 16 1st leg[32] Brazil Edgar Thailand Buriram United
Round of 16 2nd leg[33] Senegal Mame Baba Thiam Iran Esteghlal
Quarter-finals 1st leg[34] Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Quarter-finals 2nd leg[35] Qatar Akram Afif Qatar Al-Sadd
Semi-finals 1st leg[36] Iran Alireza Beiranvand Iran Persepolis
Semi-finals 2nd leg[37] Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Final 1st leg[38] Brazil Serginho Japan Kashima Antlers
Final 2nd leg[39] South Korea Kwoun Sun-tae Japan Kashima Antlers

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  2. ^ "Revamp of AFC competitions". AFC. 25 January 2014.
  3. ^ "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". AFC. 16 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Entry Manual: AFC Club Competitions 2017–2020" (PDF). AFC.
  5. ^ a b c "AFC MA Ranking (as of 30 November 2016)" (PDF). AFC.
  6. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics (2016 version)" (PDF). AFC.
  7. ^ a b c d e "List of Licensed Clubs for AFC Champions League 2018" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  8. ^ "FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. ^ "PSSI Tolak Banding Klub Terkait Lisensi AFC" [PSSI reject club appeals related to AFC license] (in Indonesian). Goal.com. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club". www.qna.org.qa. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Al Ain ruled out of next year's ACL". Gulf News. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Al Ain cleared to play in AFC Champions League". Gulf News. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  13. ^ "AFC: FLC THANH HÓA THAY QUẢNG NAM ĐÁ AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE". Goal.com. 30 November 2017.
  14. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2018". AFC. 11 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b "AFC Champions League 2018 draw concluded". AFC. 6 December 2017.
  16. ^ "AFC Champions League 2018 Official Group Stage Draw". YouTube. 6 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Impressive quarter-finalists promise thrills". AFC. 22 May 2018.
  18. ^ "AFC Champions League 2018 Knockout Stage Official Draw". YouTube. 23 May 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Quarter-final ties confirmed". AFC. 23 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Yuma Suzuki of Kashima named 2018 MVP". AFC. 10 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Al Sadd's Bounedjah bags Top Scorer Award". AFC. 10 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Kitchee's Cheng winner of Best #ACL2018 Goal". AFC. 22 November 2018.
  23. ^ "AFC Champions League 2018 Technical Report". AFC. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  24. ^ a b "The Best ACL2018 XI announced!". AFC. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2018 AFC Champions League (Group Stage, Round of 16, Knock-out Stage)". the-afc.com. AFC.
  26. ^ "ACL2018 MD1 Toyota Player of the Week: Leroy George". AFC. 15 February 2018.
  27. ^ "ACL2018 MD2 Toyota Player of the Week: Oscar". AFC. 23 February 2018.
  28. ^ "ACL2018 MD3 Toyota Player of the Week: Ricardo Goulart". AFC. 8 March 2018.
  29. ^ "ACL2018 MD4 Toyota Player of the Week: Ali Khaseif". AFC. 16 March 2018.
  30. ^ "ACL2018 MD5 Toyota Player of the Week: Mislav Orsic". AFC. 6 April 2018.
  31. ^ "ACL2018 MD6 Toyota Player of the Week: Alan". AFC. 20 April 2018.
  32. ^ "ACL2018 Round of 16 First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Edgar". AFC. 11 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Round of 16, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Mame Thiam". AFC. 18 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Quarter-final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Dejan Damjanovic". AFC. 30 August 2018.
  35. ^ "Quarter-final, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Akram Afif". AFC. 20 September 2018.
  36. ^ "Semi-Final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Alireza Beiranvand". AFC. 5 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Semi-finals, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Dejan Damjanovic". AFC. 26 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Final, First Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Serginho". AFC. November 2018.
  39. ^ "Final, 2nd Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Kwoun Sun-tae". AFC. 17 November 2018.
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