An intriguing matchup has been served in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League group stages as Indonesian champions Persib Bandung will go head-to-head against Thailand’s Port FC, the current club of Indonesia national team captain Asnawi Mangkualam.
Both sides were drawn into Group F of the competition’s East Zone, with China’s Zhejiang FC and Singapore’s Lion City Sailors completing the quartet.
Former PSM Makassar man Asnawi completed his move to Port in the second half of the 2023/24 season, after spending two years in South Korea with Ansan Greeners and Jeonnam Dragons. Despite being often utilized off the bench, Asnawi’s performances for the Lions of Khlong Toei impressed head coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok so much, he, alongside Felipe Amorim, Noboru Shimura, and Frans Putros, were the only foreign players retained by Port coming into the 2024/25 campaign.
The 2024/25 ACL2 represents the first time that Port has competed in the group stages of a continental competition since the 2021 AFC Champions League, having fallen in the qualifiers for both the 2022 and 2023/24 editions of the ACL.
As for Persib, their ACL2 appearance marked only the fourth time that the Maung Bandung has graced a continental competition, following appearances in the 1995 Asian Club Championship, the 2015 AFC Champions League, and the 2015 AFC Cup.
Zhejiang, who played in last season’s ACL, are the clear favorites to win Group F, so Persib will have to contend with both Port and LCS for that runners-up spot to advance out of the group alongside the Chinese.
Another interesting match-up within Group F will saw Port take on LCS, with Singaporean international Irfan Fandi, a new signing at the PAT Stadium, going up against his former club – having played for the Sailors whilst they were still known as Home United between 2016 and 2017.
Having replaced Vietnam’s Dong A Thanh Hoa – who controversially withdrew from the ACL2 amidst both scheduling concerns and an alleged financial crisis – Thailand’s Muangthong United will mark their first Asian appearance since 2018 by taking on South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Malaysia’s very own Selangor FC, and Dynamic Herb Cebu of the Philippines in Group H. The Twin Qilins have plenty of Southeast Asian interest within their squad, with Indonesian wonderkid Ronaldo Kwateh, Singaporean ace Jacob Mahler, and Filipino duo Scott Woods and John-Patrick Strauss donning their iconic red-and-black jersey.
Vietnamese champions Thep Xanh Nam Dinh saw themselves drawn into Group G, alongside Thai powerhouses True Bangkok United, Hong Kong’s invincible champions Lee Man FC, and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
Rounding up the East Zone was Group E, with Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima going toe-to-toe with Australia Cup champions Sydney FC, Filipino champions Kaya FC-Iloilo, and Hong Kong cup winners Eastern SC.
The first matchday of the 2024/25 ACL2 season will be played on September 17th.