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2016 AFC Champions League group stage

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The 2016 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 23 February to 4 May 2016.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League.[2]

Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held on 10 December 2015, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.[4][5]

The seeding of each team in the draw was determined by their association and their qualifying position within their association. The mechanism of the draw was as follows:[6]

  • For the West Zone, a draw was held for the three associations with three direct entrants (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups A, B and C. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.
  • For the East Zone, a draw was held for the two associations with three direct entrants (South Korea, Japan) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups E and F. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.

The following 32 teams (16 from West Zone, 16 from East Zone) entered into the group-stage draw, which included the 24 direct entrants and the eight winners of the qualifying play-off, whose identity were not known at the time of the draw.[3]

Zone Seed 1 Seed 2 Seed 3 Seed 4
West Zone
(Groups A–D)
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad (Winner Play-off West 1)
Iran Sepahan Iran Zob Ahan Iran Tractor Sazi Qatar El Jaish (Winner Play-off West 2)
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan Bunyodkor (Winner Play-off West 3)
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr Qatar Lekhwiya United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira (Winner Play-off West 4)
East Zone
(Groups E–H)
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea FC Seoul South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea Pohang Steelers (Winner Play-off East 1)
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan Gamba Osaka Japan Urawa Red Diamonds Japan FC Tokyo (Winner Play-off East 2)
Australia Melbourne Victory Australia Sydney FC Thailand Buriram United China Shandong Luneng (Winner Play-off East 3)
China Guangzhou Evergrande China Jiangsu Suning Vietnam Becamex Bình Dương China Shanghai SIPG (Winner Play-off East 4)

Format

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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.[2]

Tiebreakers

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The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers would be applied in the following order (Regulations Article 11.5):[2]

  1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
  3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. Greater number of away goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  5. If, after applying criteria 1 to 4, teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 10 apply;
  6. Goal difference in all the group matches;
  7. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
  9. Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
  10. Team who belongs to the member association with the higher AFC ranking.

Schedule

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The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1][2]

Matchday Dates Matches
Matchday 1 23–24 February 2016 Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2
Matchday 2 1–2 March 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1
Matchday 3 15–16 March 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3
Matchday 4 5–6 April 2016 Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 5 19–20 April 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 6 3–4 May 2016 Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4

On 25 January 2016, the AFC announced the following changes to the schedule due to Saudi Arabia's refusal to play in Iran after the attack on their diplomatic missions in Iran and the ensuing deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations:[7]

  • Group A: change matchday 1 (23 February) with matchday 6 (4 May)
  • Group B: change matchday 2 (1 March) with matchday 5 (20 April)
  • Group C: change matchday 1 (24 February) with matchday 6 (3 May)
  • Group D: change matchday 2 (2 March) with matchday 5 (19 April)

After the changes, all matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia (including possible play-off winners) were rescheduled to be played on matchdays 5 and 6 (19–20 April and 3–4 May). The venues of these matches would be decided after an evaluation deadline of 15 March 2016. As there had not been a return to normal relations between the two countries by then with Saudi Arabia refusing to lift their travel restrictions to Iran, the AFC accepted the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's proposal of playing all matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia in neutral venues.[8] This involved a total of six matches, two each in Groups A, B and C (no matches were moved in Group D as the play-off team from Iran failed to advance to the group).

On 31 March 2016, the AFC announced that they have approved the neutral venues, with teams from Iran moving their home matches to Oman, and teams from Saudi Arabia moving their home matches to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.[9]

Groups

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LOK NAS ITT SEP
1 Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent 6 2 4 0 6 3 +3 10 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 1–1 1–0
2 United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr 6 2 3 1 5 4 +1 9 1–1 0–0 2–0
3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 6 2 3 1 9 4 +5 9 1–1 1–2 4–0
4 Iran Sepahan 6 1 0 5 2 11 −9 3 0–2 2–0 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan1–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Mirzaev 89' Report Rivas 34'
Attendance: 2,203
Sepahan Iran2–0United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr
Chimba 14', 51' Report

Al-Nasr United Arab Emirates2–0Iran Sepahan
Nilmar 57'
Pitroipa 90+3' (pen.)
Report
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia1–1Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
Muntari 14' Report Abdukholiqov 80' (pen.)

Sepahan Iran0–2Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
Report Bikmaev 14'
Mirzaev 86'
Attendance: 1,620
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia1–2United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr
Rivas 13' Report Nilmar 1', 74'

Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan1–0Iran Sepahan
Abdukholiqov 54' Report
Attendance: 2,620
Al-Nasr United Arab Emirates0–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Report
Attendance: 7,250

Al-Nasr United Arab Emirates1–1Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent
Ekoko 31' Report Abdukholiqov 43'
Attendance: 6,246
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia4–0Iran Sepahan
Al-Ghamdi 45+2', 86'
Al-Muwallad 83'
Rivas 90+1'
Report

Sepahan Iran0–2Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Report Sânmărtean 15'
Al-Nadhri 74'
Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan0–0United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr
Report

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZOB LEK NSR BYD
1 Iran Zob Ahan 6 4 2 0 12 2 +10 14 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 3–0 5–2
2 Qatar Lekhwiya 6 2 3 1 7 2 +5 9 0–1 4–0 0–0
3 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 6 1 2 3 5 14 −9 5 0–3 1–1 3–3
4 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 6 0 3 3 5 11 −6 3 0–0 0–2 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lekhwiya Qatar0–1Iran Zob Ahan
Report Rajabzadeh 46'
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia3–3Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Mierzejewski 45+1' (pen.)
Al-Shehri 79'
Abdulghani 85'
Report Khamdamov 3', 76'
Zouaghi 33'

Bunyodkor Uzbekistan0–1Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Report Maïga 36'
Zob Ahan Iran0–0Qatar Lekhwiya
Report
Attendance: 4,000

Bunyodkor Uzbekistan0–0Iran Zob Ahan
Report
Attendance: 4,567
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia1–1Qatar Lekhwiya
Ghaleb 88' (pen.) Report Kaluyituka 7'

Zob Ahan Iran5–2Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Esmaeilifar 3'
Mohammadzadeh 34'
Rajabzadeh 50'
Rezaei 69'
Tabrizi 87'
Report Zouaghi 78'
Nurmatov 89'
Attendance: 4,523
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Lekhwiya Qatar4–0Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Nam Tae-hee 49'
Kaluyituka 70'
Flores 84'
Muntari 86'
Report

Bunyodkor Uzbekistan0–2Qatar Lekhwiya
Report Boudiaf 65'
Muntari 79'
Zob Ahan Iran3–0Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Pahlavan 27', 83'
Rezaei 74'
Report

Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia0–3Iran Zob Ahan
Report Pahlavan 30'
Hassanzadeh 42' (pen.)
Beikzadeh 87'
Lekhwiya Qatar0–0Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Report

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification TRA HIL PAK JAZ
1 Iran Tractor Sazi 6 4 0 2 10 3 +7 12 Advance to knockout stage 1–2 2–0 4–0
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11 0–2 4–1 1–0
3 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 6 3 1 2 10 9 +1 10 1–0 2–2 3–0
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 6 0 1 5 2 13 −11 1 0–1 1–1 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan2–2Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Sergeev 70'
Khashimov 89'
Report Al-Qahtani 60'
Al-Salem 84'
Tractor Sazi Iran4–0United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
Rahmani 4', 60'
Khalilzadeh 10'
Sharifi 54'
Report

Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates0–1Iran Tractor Sazi
Report Rahmani 31'
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia4–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Al-Zori 55'
Orahovac 58' (o.g.)
Kaabi 61', 78'
Report Sergeev 31'

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan1–0Iran Tractor Sazi
Sergeev 41' Report
Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates1–1Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Juma 90+4' Report Aílton 9'

Tractor Sazi Iran2–0Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Augusto 59'
Aghaei 83'
Report
Attendance: 33,450
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia1–0United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
Aílton 36' Report

Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia0–2Iran Tractor Sazi
Report Nong 66'
Hatami 81'
Al-Jazira United Arab Emirates1–3Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Mabkhout 62' (pen.) Report Karimov 10'
Sergeev 64', 83' (pen.)

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan3–0United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira
Berdiev 13'
Talipov 24'
Masharipov 80'
Report
Attendance: 4,527
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Tractor Sazi Iran1–2Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Nong 48' Report Al-Dawsari 15'
Aílton 71'

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JSH AIN AHL NSF
1 Qatar El Jaish 6 3 1 2 6 8 −2 10 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 1–4 1–0
2 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10 1–2 1–0 2–0
3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 6 3 0 3 10 7 +3 9 2–0 1–2 2–1
4 Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi 6 1 2 3 4 7 −3 5 0–0 1–1 2–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates1–2Qatar El Jaish
Douglas 65' (pen.) Report Hamdallah 9'
Romarinho 45'
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–1Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
Al Fatil 2'
Al-Somah 47'
Report Abdukhalikov 29'
Attendance: 17,161
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Abdukhalikov 47'
Karimov 60'
Report Assiri 71' (pen.)
Attendance: 16,221
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
El Jaish Qatar2–1United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
Hamdallah 49'
Abubakar 79'
Report Al-Kathiri 86'

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
O. Abdulrahman 71' Report
El Jaish Qatar1–0Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
Rashidov 87' Report

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan0–0Qatar El Jaish
Report
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia1–2United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
Al-Amri 90+3' Report Douglas 25', 77'

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan1–1United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
Karimov 1' Report Asprilla 32'
El Jaish Qatar1–4Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Hamdallah 51' Report Seraj 22', 57'
Assiri 43'
M. Hawsawi 52'

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–0Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi
Asprilla 39'
Ahmed 90'
Report
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–0Qatar El Jaish
Marquinho 62'
O. Hawsawi 85'
Report

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JHM TOK JIA BBD
1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 3 1 2 13 9 +4 10 Advance to knockout stage 2–1 2–2 2–0
2 Japan FC Tokyo 6 3 1 2 8 8 0 10 0–3 0–0 3–1
3 China Jiangsu Suning 6 2 3 1 10 7 +3 9 3–2 1–2 3–0
4 Vietnam Becamex Binh Duong 6 1 1 4 6 13 −7 4 3–2 1–2 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea2–1Japan FC Tokyo
Ko Moo-yeol 39'
Lee Dong-gook 83'
Report Abe 87'
Becamex Bình Dương Vietnam1–1China Jiangsu Suning
Nguyễn Anh Đức 28' (pen.) Report Ji Xiang 13'

FC Tokyo Japan3–1Vietnam Becamex Bình Dương
Burns 50'
Bùi Tấn Trường 67' (o.g.)
Maeda 84'
Report Nguyễn Anh Đức 24'
Attendance: 7,760
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Jiangsu Suning China3–2South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Alex Teixeira 16'
65'
Wu Xi 69'
Report Lee Dong-gook 62'
Sainsbury 86' (o.g.)

FC Tokyo Japan0–0China Jiangsu Suning
Report
Attendance: 10,265

Becamex Bình Dương Vietnam3–2South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Nguyễn Anh Đức 12' (pen.), 88' (pen.)
Amougou 35'
Report Lee Jong-ho 27'
Han Kyo-won 28'
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Jiangsu Suning China1–2Japan FC Tokyo
34' (pen.) Report Morishige 30', 83'

FC Tokyo Japan0–3South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Report Kim Bo-kyung 35'
Lee Jae-sung 60'
Ko Moo-yeol 90+1'
Jiangsu Suning China3–0Vietnam Becamex Bình Dương
Wu Xi 6'
8'
Ji Xiang 81'
Report

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea2–2China Jiangsu Suning
Leonardo 19' (pen.)
Lim Jong-eun 69'
Report Teixeira 24'
54' (pen.)
Attendance: 17,312
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Becamex Bình Dương Vietnam1–2Japan FC Tokyo
Lê Công Vinh 68' (pen.) Report Maeda 21', 55'

Group F

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEO SHD HIR BUR
1 South Korea FC Seoul 6 4 1 1 17 5 +12 13 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 4–1 2–1
2 China Shandong Luneng 6 3 2 1 7 5 +2 11 1–4 1–0 3–0
3 Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 3 0 3 9 8 +1 9 2–1 1–2 3–0
4 Thailand Buriram United 6 0 1 5 1 16 −15 1 0–6 0–0 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan1–2China Shandong Luneng
Shimizu 64' Report Yang Xu 67'
Tardelli 78'
Buriram United Thailand0–6South Korea FC Seoul
Report Adriano 28', 40', 50', 60'
Damjanović 67'
Lee Seok-hyun 90'

FC Seoul South Korea4–1Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kim Won-sik 31'
Adriano 49', 56', 69'
Report Chiba 25'
Shandong Luneng China3–0Thailand Buriram United
Tardelli 65'
Jucilei 81'
Zhao Mingjian 86'
Report

Shandong Luneng China1–4South Korea FC Seoul
Jucilei 62' Report Adriano 28', 71'
Go Yo-han 65'
Damjanović 68'
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan3–0Thailand Buriram United
Asano 42', 55'
Shimizu 81'
Report

FC Seoul South Korea0–0China Shandong Luneng
Report
Buriram United Thailand0–2Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Report Miyayoshi 45'
Shibasaki 88'

FC Seoul South Korea2–1Thailand Buriram United
Damjanović 24'
Park Yong-woo 43'
Report Túñez 67' (pen.)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan2–1South Korea FC Seoul
Asano 27'
Minagawa 39'
Report Adriano 88' (pen.)
Buriram United Thailand0–0China Shandong Luneng
Report

Group G

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SSI MEL SSB GAM
1 China Shanghai SIPG 6 4 0 2 10 8 +2 12 Advance to knockout stage 3–1 2–1 2–1
2 Australia Melbourne Victory 6 2 3 1 7 7 0 9[a] 2–1 0–0 2–1
3 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6 2 3 1 7 4 +3 9[a] 3–0 1–1 0–0
4 Japan Gamba Osaka 6 0 2 4 4 9 −5 2 0–2 1–1 1–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Melbourne Victory 2, Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2. Head-to-head away goal: Melbourne Victory 1, Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0
Melbourne Victory Australia2–1China Shanghai SIPG
Ingham 31'
Berisha 73' (pen.)
Report Wu Lei 52'
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea0–0Japan Gamba Osaka
Report

Gamba Osaka Japan1–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Endō 57' Report Ansell 3'
Attendance: 14,270
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Shanghai SIPG China2–1South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Elkeson 32'
Wu Lei 52'
Report Jang Hyun-soo 72'
Attendance: 26,351
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)

Melbourne Victory Australia0–0South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Report
Shanghai SIPG China2–1Japan Gamba Osaka
Elkeson 41', 62' Report Patric 60'

Gamba Osaka Japan0–2China Shanghai SIPG
Report Wu Lei 66'
Lü Wenjun 72'
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea1–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Kwon Chang-hoon 58' Report Barbarouses 60'

Gamba Osaka Japan1–2South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Konno 89' Report Santos 49', 57' (pen.)
Shanghai SIPG China3–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Yu Hai 38'
Elkeson 40'
Conca 65' (pen.)
Report Makarounas 81'
Attendance: 32,355

Melbourne Victory Australia2–1Japan Gamba Osaka
Berisha 13' (pen.)
Thompson 17'
Report Ademilson 85'
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea3–0China Shanghai SIPG
Kim Gun-hee 7' (pen.), 54'
Min Sang-gi 52'
Report
Attendance: 4,277
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Group H

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SYD URA GZE POH
1 Australia Sydney FC 6 3 1 2 4 4 0 10 Advance to knockout stage 0–0 2–1 1–0
2 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 6 2 3 1 6 4 +2 9 2–0 1–0 1–1
3 China Guangzhou Evergrande 6 2 2 2 6 5 +1 8 1–0 2–2 0–0
4 South Korea Pohang Steelers 6 1 2 3 2 5 −3 5 0–1 1–0 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan2–0Australia Sydney FC
Muto 8'
Koroki 65' (pen.)
Report
Attendance: 19,500
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Guangzhou Evergrande China0–0South Korea Pohang Steelers
Report

Sydney FC Australia2–1China Guangzhou Evergrande
Stambolziev 18'
Dimitrijević 89'
Report Calver 25' (o.g.)
Attendance: 18,149
Pohang Steelers South Korea1–0Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Son Jun-ho 19' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 7,000

Pohang Steelers South Korea0–1Australia Sydney FC
Report Naumoff 41'
Guangzhou Evergrande China2–2Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Goulart 6' (pen.), 14' Report Muto 30'
Koroki 89'

Sydney FC Australia1–0South Korea Pohang Steelers
Ninković 51' Report
Attendance: 5,642
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan1–0China Guangzhou Evergrande
Muto 52' Report

Pohang Steelers South Korea0–2China Guangzhou Evergrande
Report Goulart 33'
Gao Lin 47'
Attendance: 9,274
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Sydney FC Australia0–0Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Report

Guangzhou Evergrande China1–0Australia Sydney FC
Gao Lin 2' Report
Attendance: 33,517
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan1–1South Korea Pohang Steelers
Ljubijankić 87' (pen.) Report Veselinović 65' (pen.)

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.[8]
  2. ^ Guangzhou Evergrande played their first group stage home match behind closed doors due to breaches of the AFC Champions League Regulations.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2016" (PDF). AFC.
  2. ^ a b c d "2016 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC. 28 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Champions Guangzhou Evergrande to learn ACL 2016 opponents". AFC. 4 December 2015.
  4. ^ "AFC Champions League 2016 Group Stage Draw". AFC. 10 December 2015.
  5. ^ "ACL 2016 Draw Results" (PDF). AFC.
  6. ^ "AFC Champions League 2016: Official Draw". AFC.
  7. ^ "Decisions following AFC Competitions Committee meeting". AFC. 25 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia and Iran clubs to play at neutral venues in Champions League". AFC. 16 March 2016.
  9. ^ "IR Iran and Saudi Arabia ACL clubs to play in Oman, Qatar and UAE". AFC. 31 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Guangzhou Evergrande Sanctioned For Regulatory Violations At AFC Champions League Final 2015". AFC. 3 February 2016.
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