After an enthralling league stage in the inaugural campaign of the AFC Champions League Elite, it is time for the knockout round. The marathon battle to win Asia's premier club competition has been whittled down to 16 contenders, and new champions will definitely be crowned following a remarkable failure to progress by Al Ain -- last season's winners. Starting Monday and running through to next week, teams will face off over two legs with West and East Asia segregation still in place. The prize on offer? The chance to make it to the tournament's new centralized Finals format, which will see the quarterfinals, semifinals and final all take place in Saudi Arabia over a span of over 11 days from April 25 to May 4.
Here, we take a closer look at the 16 clubs still in the running to be the maiden winners of the ACL Elite.
Al Hilal vs. Pakhtakor
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the West region was dominated by the Saudi Pro League's representatives and it was Al Hilal who finished top of the pile with an impressive record of 22 points from a possible 24. Al Hilal's 24 goals was also the biggest haul in the league stage and they boasted an even spread of contributors, with captain Salem Al-Dawsari leading the way with seven.
One impressive aspect of Al Hilal's dominant displays has been the fact they have been without star striker Aleksandar Mitrović since the start of the new year and yet haven't looked like they have missed him at all, with up-and-coming Brazilian prospect Marcos Leonardo filling his void admirably. The likes of João Cancelo and Sergej Milinković-Savić have also been handy contributors and, on paper at least, it seems unlikely Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor will pose them too much of a hurdle. Pakhtakor scrapped through to the round of 16 on goal difference as one of three sides tied on seven points and managed just one win from eight. They also had the joint-worst offensive record with just four goals to their names.
While Pakhtakor is considered Uzbekistan's biggest club and has history, having reached the semifinals in 2004, their match against Al Hilal presents a formidable challenge.
Al Ahli vs. Al Rayyan
Al Ahli also cruised through the league stage with seven wins and one draw, scoring 23 goals along the way. Familiar names Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez led the way with five goals each, with Roberto Firmino closely behind.
Despite their strong form, Al Ahli has been active in the midseason transfer window, and some confusion about player positioning might be their Achilles' heel. Belgian import Matteo Dams was initially fielded at left-back but then moved to the center of defense, causing some shifts, like moving Roger Ibañez to the right. Any weakness here could be exploited by Al Rayyan, who also features notable players such as Róger Guedes and Trézéguet, and their previous encounter ended with Al Ahli narrowly winning 2-1.
Al Nassr vs. Esteghlal
The third SPL representative, Al Nassr, will still be optimistic about their title prospects, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted six goals. The team is hoping to squeeze more out of Sadio Mané, who has only one goal so far this season.
During their previous encounter with Esteghlal, Al Nassr managed to win 1-0, courtesy of Aymeric Laporte. Esteghlal required a final-day 2-0 win over Al Rayyan to secure their last-16 berth and are the sole representatives from Iran, aiming for their third title since last winning the trophy in 1991.
Al Sadd vs. Al Wasl
This matchup promises to be the closest battle, as Al Sadd, who finished fourth, goes against Al Wasl, the fifth-placed team. Al Sadd’s star player, Akram Afif, continues to lead, but their foreign contingent has underperformed. Al Wasl, playing in the knockout round for the first time, are based on being well-drilled with strong defensive capabilities.
Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Shanghai Port
Yokohama F. Marinos finished top of the East region with the best record, scoring 23 goals. After last season's final defeat, the team is extremely motivated. New coach Steve Holland maintains most of the former squad, honing their focus on Anderson Lopes.
Shanghai Port, meanwhile, only advanced due to Shandong Taishan's withdrawal and has struggled, losing their last two ACL games.
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Shanghai Shenhua
Kawasaki Frontale aims to redeem their disappointing domestic season during this tournament. Despite their previous success from 2017-2021, they have yet to replicate this success on the Asian stage.
Shanghai Shenhua inflicted Kawasaki's only defeat this campaign, showcasing their ability to upset. With players like Saulo Mineiro entering strong form recently, expectations are high.
Johor Darul Ta'zim vs. Buriram United
This all-ASEAN clash guarantees Southeast Asian representation in the quarterfinals. Johor Darul Ta'zim has improved with midseason signings, but Buriram United is no less potent, having successfully secured their advancement.
Gwangju FC vs. Vissel Kobe
Both these teams had phases of dominance during the campaign. Gwangju FC made headlines with their tournament debut, beating Marinos 7-3 initially. Vissel Kobe, meanwhile, features star players Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto and hopes to regain form after fluctuated performance.
With the stakes high as the knockout stage approaches, it remains to be seen which of these 16 sides will rise to the occasion and move closer to lifting the prestigious trophy. Will new champions be crowned, or will established teams prove their dominance once again? The matches starting this week promise to be thrilling as fans worldwide tune in to witness the challenges and triumphs.