Al Hilal and Mumbai City were drawn in the same group for the AFC Champions League 2023/24 group stage on Thursday, August 24. The other two teams in the group are Istiklol (Tajikistan) and Air Force Club (Iraq).
This is a major coup for Indian football, as it will be the first time that Neymar will play in India. The Brazilian superstar is one of the most popular footballers in the world, and his presence in the AFC Champions League is sure to generate huge interest in the competition.
Mumbai City will be the underdogs in this group, but they will be determined to make their mark on the competition. They have a young and talented squad, and they will be looking to cause an upset.
The group stage matches will be played from September 7 to October 20, 2023. The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage
Here is a closer look at the group:
- Al Hilal: The defending champions are the clear favorites to top the group. They have a star-studded squad that includes Neymar, Mohamed Salah, and Carlos Vela.
- Mumbai City: The Indian side will be the underdogs in this group, but they will be determined to make their mark on the competition. They have a young and talented squad, and they will be looking to cause an upset..
It will be interesting to see how Mumbai City perform in this group. They have a tough task ahead of them, but they will be determined to make their mark on the AFC Champions League.