Asian Champions League: Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr to meet Yokohama F Marinos in quarter-finals
All four quarter-finals will be played in a centralised event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the port city also hosting the semis and final
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr have been drawn to face last season’s runners-up, Yokohama F Marinos from Japan, in next month’s quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite with fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal to take on tournament debutants Gwangju FC of South Korea.
Al-Ahli, the third club from Saudi Arabia to reach the last eight, will play Thailand’s Buriram United and Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale will face Al-Sadd from Qatar.
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 quarter-finals, semis and final of the tournament, which has been rebranded the Champions League Elite, will all take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah over one leg.
Al-Hilal, winners of the title on a record four occasions, will meet Gwangju in the opening game of the finals phase on April 25. The winner will face Buriram United or Al Ahli – who meet on April 26 – in the semi-finals.