The AFC Champions League Two™ is set for a thrilling return to action next Tuesday when the contenders continue their quest for glory in the Knockout Stage.
Eight Round of 16 ties - four each in the West and East regions - await as the tournament resumes following the conclusion of the Group Stage in December, with the first legs to be played between February 11 and 13.
Additionally, for the first time in this competition, the Knockout Stage will feature the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, reinforcing the Confederation's commitment to maintaining the highest officiating standards.
The 20th edition of the Continent's second-tier men's club competition continues with four sides that have reached the Knockout Stage of an AFC competition for the first time: Al Khaldiya SC of Bahrain, Al Wakrah SC of Qatar, Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore, and Nam Dinh FC of Vietnam.
West
Teams from eight other Member Associations form the remainder of the last-16 cast and the first tie takes place in Riffa's Bahrain National Stadium, where Al Khaldiya welcome Tractor FC at 5 pm.
The hosts, who won the 2023/24 Bahraini Premier League to clinch their second title in a row, finished second in Group B in their maiden foray into Continental club competition. Their opponents from the Islamic Republic of Iran are in a Knockout Stage for the third time after finishing top of Group A, with their last two coming in the AFC Champions League™ (ACL) Round of 16 (2016 and 2021).
Al Hussein ended a 19-year absence from Continental football when they qualified for this edition after winning their first ever Jordanian Pro League title in 2023/24. Their last involvement saw them reach the last eight of the AFC Cup™ 2005 and they will hope to go further after progressing as Group D runners-up.
At the 7 pm kick-off at the Amman International Stadium, they will host Group C winners Sharjah FC, the six-time United Arab Emirates Pro League champions and one-time ACL quarter-finalists (2004), who are making a third Knockout Stage appearance.
Also at the Amman International Stadium on February 12, Al Wehdat contest their 10th Knockout Stage at 5pm after finishing second in Group C. The 17-time league champions and 2023/24 Jordan FA Cup winners, who have reached the AFC Cup™ Semi-finals thrice (2006, 2007 and 2011), welcome 2023/24 UAE Pro League runners-up and Group D winners Shabab Al Ahli.
In the Knockout Stage for a fifth occasion, the away side were 2015 finalists in the ACL and will aim to come out on top again in their second meeting, having won 3-0 during the ACL 2023/24 Preliminary Stage.
Two-time Qatar Stars League champions and Group A runners-up Al Wakrah's last Continental foray came in 2002 at the Asian Club Championship and they have made a strong return, as the 2024 Qatar Cup winners prepare to clash with Al Taawoun FC at 7 pm at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan on the same evening.
The Saudi Arabian visitors, who reached the ACL Round of 16 in 2020, topped Group B to advance to a Knockout Stage for the second time.
East
The opening match in the East is scheduled for February 12 as well and features Group E runners-up Sydney FC in their second Knockout Stage involvement.
The record five-time A-League Men champions and 2023 Australia Cup winners, who reached the ACL Round of 16 in 2016, will take to the Jubilee Stadium at 7 pm to face Bangkok United. The visitors captured their first Thai FA Cup trophy in 2023/24 and won Group G to record back-to-back Knockout Stage appearances, having made it to the same stage in the ACL 2023/24.
The second-placed side of Group G was Nam Dinh, whose sole previous Continental appearance was in the Group Stage of the 2008 ACL. The 2023/24 V League 1 champions, whose triumph came 39 years after their first in 1985, will host Group E winners Sanfrecce Hiroshima at 7 pm at the Thien Truong Stadium. Runners-up in the 2024 J1 League, the Japanese side have twice reached the ACL Round of 16 (2014 and 2019).
The first of two Thai outfits to be under the floodlights on February 13 are Port FC, who are set to play Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC at 7pm at the Pathum Thani Stadium. Third in the 2023/24 Thai League 1, the home side's second-placed finish in Group F sealed a second Knockout Stage appearance 15 years after their Quarter-final run in the 2010 AFC Cup.
Their Korea Republic visitors are the most accomplished side remaining in the ACL Two 2024/25, with two ACL crowns (2006 and 2016) in their trophy cabinet. The record nine-time K League 1 champions topped Group H to reach their 14th Knockout Stage - a bright spark amid a difficult campaign that saw them maintain their domestic top-flight status only after victory in the relegation playoffs.
Returning to AFC competitions after their outing in the 2017 ACL, Group H runners-up Muangthong United will look forward to their fourth Knockout Stage journey when the four-time league winners and 2010 AFC Cup semi-finalists go head to head with ASEAN compatriots Lion City Sailors FC.
The latter won Group F to progress and the 2023 Singapore Cup winners will make the relatively short trip to Bangkok for the 9 pm battle at the Rajamangala Stadium.
The second-leg fixtures will be played between February 18 and 20, followed by the Quarter-finals in March and the Semi-finals in April, before the tournament culminates in a single-leg Final on May 18, 2025.
Soccerphile.com