If Sadd win that encounter, in the semi-finals they will face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi side Al Nassr and last season’s runners-up Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan.
Veteran former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia’s top club competition. The 40-year-old Portuguese will spearhead Al Nassr’s hopes next month against a Yokohama side managed by Steve Holland, formerly Gareth Southgate’s assistant with England.
The matches are taking place in a unique centralised format between April 25 and May 3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With no regional division in place for the draw, four-time Asian champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia – the top seeded side – will face South Korea’s Gwangju.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Saudi, unbeaten in this season’s campaign with nine wins and a draw, were drawn to meet Thailand’s Buriram United. The winners of the Al Hilal-Gwangju tie will meet the triumphant side from the Al Ahli-Buriram face off in the semi-finals.
The first quarter-final is scheduled to take place on April 25, with the second and third last eight ties set for April 26, and the final one to be played on April 27. The semi-finals will be contested on April 29 and 30th with the final match to be staged at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on May 3, with ultimate glory on the line and a record prize purse of at least $12mn at stake.
Quarter-finals draw
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) v Gwangju FC (South Korea)
Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) v Buriram United (Thailand)
Yokohama F Marinos (Japan) v Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) v Al Sadd (Qatar)
Semi-finals
Al Hilal-Gwangju FC vs Al Ahli-Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos-Al Nassr Club vs Kawasaki Frontale-Al Sadd
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