AFC Champions League Elite:
Esteghlal, Tractor avoid Saudi heavyweights in league stage
Persian Gulf Pro League clubs Esteghlal and Tractor were handed favorable draws for the upcoming AFC Champions League Elite, with both sides avoiding the Saudi Pro League heavyweights in the league stage.
The draw for the revamped 32-team competition took place at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, where the two Iranian top-flight clubs were given identical pathways in the West Zone.
Both clubs will play their home fixtures against Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd, Uzbekistan’s PFC Neftchi, Emirati club Al Wasl and Al Shamal of Qatar.
Esteghlal and Tractor will also play away to Emirati duo Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli, as well as Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
The league stage will kick off on September 14.
The top eight finishers in each of the West and East league stages will advance to the round of 16.
Meanwhile, the draw for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two was also held, with Iran’s Golgohar Sirjan drawn in Group B alongside UAE’s Al Jazira, Bahrain’s Al Muharraq and Turkmenistan’s FC Arkadag.
The top two teams in each of the eight groups will advance to the knockout stage.