The Asian Champions League groups were drawn this Monday. The Qatari team Al-Rayyan, where James Rodríguez plays, was in group A and will not have an easy chance of advancing to the second round, since it was in the same zone as the current Asian champion.
James Rodríguez will play the Champions League again, although not the European one. Now, he aims to shine on the Asian continent and thus consecrate himself to his team, in a year in which the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is played.
It will be the 41st version of the AFC Asian Champions League, and Al-Rayyan hopes to advance from the round, although in group A he will have to face Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, who won the title in 2021.
Thus, James will face his compatriot, and teammate in the Colombian National Team, Gustavo Cuéllar, who is a fixed piece in Al-Hilal.
In addition, Al-Rayyan will face Istiklol Dushanbe, current champions of the Tajik league. The fourth team in group A is about to decide on a play-off bracket in the qualifying playoff, which faces Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates and Al-Zawraa SC from Iraq.
The group stage of the Asian Champions League starts on May 10 and will end on the 25th of the same month.
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