Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club, Al Nassr, will face a tough challenge in the Asian Champions League quarterfinals after being drawn against last season’s runners-up, Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan.
The draw, announced on Monday, sets the stage for an intense knockout clash next month.
Despite his illustrious career, which includes five UEFA Champions League titles, the 40-year-old Portuguese star has yet to win Asia’s top club competition.
He will lead Al Nassr’s charge against a Yokohama side coached by Steve Holland, who previously served as Gareth Southgate’s assistant with the England national team.
The newly rebranded Champions League Elite will see the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final played as single-leg fixtures in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The winner of the Al Nassr-Yokohama encounter will advance to face either Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale or Qatar’s Al Sadd in the semifinals.
Also in the quarterfinals, four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, another Saudi club, will take on South Korea’s Gwangju FC.
The victor from that match will meet either Thailand’s Buriram United or Saudi side Al Ahli in the semifinals.
All quarterfinal ties are scheduled between April 25-27, with the semifinals set for April 29-30. The final will take place on May 3, with all matches hosted in Jeddah.
