Al Nassr return to Asian elite draw with a seeding advantage over Al Hilal

Al Nassr have been placed above local rivals Al Hilal in the early seeding arrangements for the AFC Champions League Elite, despite returning to the competition after missing last season’s edition.

The draw for the league stage will take place next Tuesday at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With the draw approaching, the AFC has revealed the paths for the 32 clubs involved in the league phase. The competition is split into two regional sections, with 16 teams in the West and 16 in the East.

In the West region, the clubs have been divided into four pots. Each team will play eight matches, facing opponents from each pot. No side will be drawn against another club from the same country.

The leading eight teams in the West will advance to the round of 16.

The seeding has produced an unexpected position for Al Hilal, the most successful club in the history of the AFC Champions League. They have been placed in Pot 3 alongside Qatar’s Al Gharafa, Iran’s Tractor and United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl.

Two Saudi Pro League clubs have been ranked above them.

Al Ahli, who are listed as the holders of the past two editions, have been placed in Pot 1. They are joined by United Arab Emirates side Al Ain, Qatar’s Al Sadd and Iran’s Esteghlal.

Al Nassr have been assigned to Pot 2 alongside Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Baku, Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

The club’s appearance in Pot 2 comes as they return to the AFC Champions League Elite after being absent from last season’s tournament. Their placement means they have been given a higher position in the draw than Al Hilal, despite Al Hilal’s record in the competition.

The remaining two Saudi clubs in the league phase, Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah, are in Pot 4. They are joined in that pot by Qatar’s Al Shamal and Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.

The league-stage format will require every club to play eight matches against opponents selected from across the four pots, while maintaining the restriction preventing teams from the same country from meeting. Once those matches are complete, the top eight sides from the West will qualify for the knockout stage.

The draw in Kuala Lumpur will therefore determine the opening schedules for all 16 Western clubs, including the four representatives from Saudi Arabia. For Al Nassr, it will mark their return to the continent’s elite competition with a seeding position above their traditional neighbours and rivals Al Hilal.

The final ranking of the clubs was announced only days before the draw, giving the two Riyadh sides contrasting starting points ahead of the new league phase.