The four Saudi representatives to the 2010 AFC Champions League figure in different groups when the draws were held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur Monday. The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, split into West and East zones, with all opponents playing each other at home and away. Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli qualified to the Asian championship following their fine performances in their 2008 local competitions. The Asian draw put Al-Ahli in Group A along with Al-Gharafa of Qatar, Al-Jazira of UAE and the 1991 title holder Esteghlal of Iran. The 2004 and 2005 winner and 2009 runner-up Al-Ittihad is in Group B with Zobahan of Iran, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and the play-off winner of the west. Al-Shabab figures in Group C with 2003 title holder Al- Ain of the UAE, Sepahan of Iran and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan. Al-Hilal, 1992 and 2000 winner is in Group D along with the 1989 title holder Al-Sadd of Qatar, Al-Ahli of the UAE and Mes of Iran. Group E of the eastern teams included Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of Korea, Melbourne Victory (AUS), Beijing Guoan (CHN) and Kawasaki Frontale (JPN). Kashima Antlers (JPN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Persipura Jayapura (IDN) and Changchun Yatai (CHN) came in Group F. Meanwhile, Group G included Henan Jianye (CHN), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Suwon Bluewings (KOR) and the east play-off winner. The 1997, 1998 and 2009 winner Pohang Steelers of Korea is in Group H with Adelaide United (AUS), Shandong Luneng (CHN) and the winner of the Japanese Emperor's Cup which will be determined on Jan 1. The teams will play home and away matches in round 32 before the winners move to the 16-team knockout stage. The AFC Champions League is the modern premier Asian club football competition organized annually by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is contested among the top 30 clubs from top 10 Asian leagues joined with two more clubs qualified through the playoffs.
