DOHA (Qatar): Total 13 teams arrived in the Qatari capital to participate in the 2020 AFC Champions League (West Zone) Group matches that will kick off from Monday.
Four groups (A-D) will comprise some of the best known West Asian teams including reigning champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
The centralised fixtures will take place across four air-conditioned venues Khalifa International Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Education City Stadium and Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
Operating under the exceptional circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, all players and officials are required to undergo testing before their departure from their respective countries and again upon their arrival in Qatar, with subsequent tests will be conducted every three to six days.
Movement of all players and officials will be limited to the hotel, stadium and training sites, as part of a ‘medical bubble’.
Iran’s Esteghlal FC were the first to arrive and they are in Group A alongside Iraq’s Al Shorta and Al Ahli Saudi FC.
Inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain FC became the last of the 13 teams to arrive in the late hours of Friday night, to compete in Group D alongside Sepahan FC, Al Nassr FC and Al Sadd.
Group B sees reigning champions Al Hilal SFC pitted against UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC in addition to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor FC and IR Iran’s Shahr Khodro FC.
Meanwhile, Iran Pro League champions Persepolis play against Sharjah, Al Duhail and Al Taawoun in Group C.
UAE Pro League side Al Wahda FSCC, drawn in Group A, had informed the AFC that they were unable to travel after several members of the club tested positive for COVID-19.
