They seem to have hit the jackpot when it comes to signing foreign players in that they are functioning well with the local players. Usually they tend to sign stopgaps just before the AFC Cup, which destroys much of their rhythm. But it's hard to say; they are top of the DPL, albeit by just a single point, and this is the weakest DPL we have seen in years due to the dysfunctional nature of most of the clubs. COVID and mismanagement by the football association have hit Maldivian football really hard, and Maziya is the only club with their head above water.
Things could get interesting if they manage to make use of their home advantage, but my head says they will end up third in the group again.
In all, 24 different clubs from 10 different countries have claimed the coveted trophy. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are the most successful team in the history of the AFC Champions League with four titles (1991, 1999–2000, 2019, 2021).
Al-Hilal also hold the record for most final appearances in the ACL, having appeared in nine title rounds.
Al Hilal: the losing finalists of the last edition of the Champions League, Al Hilal are the most successful club in the history of the competition, having won it four times (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021). Their five runners-up finishes are also a record. They are the dominant force of Saudi Arabian football, having won the domestic league a record 18 times and the King Cup 10 times. They have also finished runners-up in the FIFA Club World Cup once, in 2022.
They have now further strengthened in this summer of heavy spending by the Saudi clubs by adding the likes of Neymar Jr., Kalidou Koulibaly, Yassine Bounou, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Aleksander Mitrovic to their squad this season. This adds to their strong domestic contingent which includes Salem Al-Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri (both of whom scored against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup) and Salman Faraj.
FC Nassaji Mazandaran: the team finished 12th in the Pro League but qualified for the ACL by virtue of winning the Hazfi Cup - the first major piece of silverware in their history. The team have an all-Iranian playing squad, with the exception of Iraqi centre-forward Alaa Abbas. They are making their ACL debut.
PFC Navbahor Namangan: Navbahor, who finished runners-up in the Uzbek league last season, have won it only once before (1996). The club have had more success in the Uzbek Cup, which they have won thrice (most recently in 1998). They made it to the ACL proper after a 1-0 (in extra time) win over Qatar's Al Wakrah in their playoff
Al Hilal have the capability to rip us apart! Not just Neymar, they have signed big players from Serbia, Senegal, Morocco etc who were previously in Chelsea, Napoli etc kind of team. Plus a lot of Saudi NT...away game can be very painful
Bheken bhau from Navi Mumbai will pocket Neymar and Mitrovic😂Jokes apart,match shouldn't have been played in Pune.If not Andheri,they could have played it in Dy Patil. Brabourne is lying waste,it could have been manageable if planned better. Bangalore/Ybk too would have been ok atleast people would have come to support a fellow Indian team.Neymar may be a crowd puller in Pune.Mumbai city fc will be playing its biggest match in the history of its existence.Cant expect anything as Al hilal has the best talent of the world.Wish we are all surprised by the support and result.We will know were our Indian talent stand against best of the world.Will be a good platform to judge ourselves.Also Bhau means Brother in Marathi 😁
Comments
Things could get interesting if they manage to make use of their home advantage, but my head says they will end up third in the group again.
In all, 24 different clubs from 10 different countries have claimed the coveted trophy. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are the most successful team in the history of the AFC Champions League with four titles (1991, 1999–2000, 2019, 2021).
Al-Hilal also hold the record for most final appearances in the ACL, having appeared in nine title rounds.
https://olympics.com/en/news/afc-champions-league-acl-winners-list-football-club-teams
Who are Mumbai's opponents?
Al Hilal: the losing finalists of the last edition of the Champions League, Al Hilal are the most successful club in the history of the competition, having won it four times (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021). Their five runners-up finishes are also a record. They are the dominant force of Saudi Arabian football, having won the domestic league a record 18 times and the King Cup 10 times. They have also finished runners-up in the FIFA Club World Cup once, in 2022.
They have now further strengthened in this summer of heavy spending by the Saudi clubs by adding the likes of Neymar Jr., Kalidou Koulibaly, Yassine Bounou, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Aleksander Mitrovic to their squad this season. This adds to their strong domestic contingent which includes Salem Al-Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri (both of whom scored against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup) and Salman Faraj.
FC Nassaji Mazandaran: the team finished 12th in the Pro League but qualified for the ACL by virtue of winning the Hazfi Cup - the first major piece of silverware in their history. The team have an all-Iranian playing squad, with the exception of Iraqi centre-forward Alaa Abbas. They are making their ACL debut.
PFC Navbahor Namangan: Navbahor, who finished runners-up in the Uzbek league last season, have won it only once before (1996). The club have had more success in the Uzbek Cup, which they have won thrice (most recently in 1998). They made it to the ACL proper after a 1-0 (in extra time) win over Qatar's Al Wakrah in their playoff
https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/38248785/mumbai-city-fc-al-hilal-neymar-group-d-afc-champions-league-draw