Asian Champions League: Kitchee drawn against Shanghai Port, as Al Hilal handed chance for Tajikistan Istikol revenge in group phase

Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee FC have been drawn against Shanghai Port and Chiangrai United in the group stages of the Asian Champions League.

In last year’s competition, Kitchee finished with a creditable 11 points from six matches and narrowly missed out on the last 16, while striker Dejan Damjanovic overtook Lee Dong-gook as the competition’s record scorer.

One more side will be added to Group J, with the winners of a playoff making up the numbers.

Elsewhere, defending champions Al Hilal have been handed the opportunity to avenge a shock loss at the hands of Tajikistan’s Istiklol in last year’s competition after the pair were drawn together in the group phase on Monday.

Istiklol, making their debut appearance in the competition, thrashed the Saudi side 4-1 in the group stages in Riyadh last year, and finished ahead of their more illustrious opponents to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Al Hilal advanced to the last 16 as one of the three best runners-up in the west Asian side of the draw, and put the defeat behind them by going on to beat South Korea’s Pohang Steelers in the final to become the first four-time Asian club champions.

The pair have been drawn in Group A of this year’s Champions League alongside Qatar’s Al Rayyan and a playoff winner.