Al-Ain Set to Defend Continental Title Against Stiff Competition

Al-Ain of the UAE will start their defense of their Asian title against formidable teams, including Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, next month. The tournament features a reconfigured format, reduced teams, and increased prize money, with group phase play leading to knockout rounds and a final in May.

Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates is gearing up to defend their continental title next month, facing tough competitors like Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, along with Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia. The team, steered by Hernan Crespo, won their second Asian title in May.

Following a group-phase draw in Kuala Lumpur, Al-Ain will also face Qatar's Al-Sadd, Al-Rayyan, and Al-Gharafa, among others. This year's top-tier Asian club competition has been overhauled, reducing the number of teams from 40 to 24, and adopting the Swiss League format for the group phase, commencing on September 16.

Teams are divided into two 12-team groups, covering west and east Asia, with computer-assisted draws determining matchups. The champions will earn up to $12 million, a significant increase from previous seasons. The tournament concludes with knockout rounds starting in March and the final scheduled for May 4.

(With inputs from agencies.)