Who are the knockout round contenders in the AFC Champions League Elite?
With the ACL Elite knockout round getting underway, we take a look at the 16 contenders still in the running.
Shandong: Mass 'physical discomfort' reason behind abrupt ACL withdrawal
Shandong Taishan have provided an explanation behind their abrupt withdrawal from the AFC Champions League Elite.
Shandong withdrawal could throw ACL Elite into disarray
Shandong Taishan's withdrawal on the final day of the league stage could throw the ACL Elite into disarray.
Former giants Guangzhou denied license for 2025
Fallen Asian giants Guangzhou have been denied permission to play in 2025 by the Chinese Football Association.
JDT hit by sucker punch after Arif denied another star turn by Wang's heroics
Arif Aiman would have produced yet another star turn in the ACL Elite -- if not for the heroics of Wang Dalei.
Two months on from 7-0 humbling, will China fare any better in rematch with Japan?
China will be looking to show how far they've come from the last time they met Japan and suffered a 7-0 humbling.
Chinese Super League slowly recovering from excess of the past
Shanghai Port have been crowned Chinese Super League champions, but the competition is a far cry from the big-spending behemoth it was a decade ago.
After years in the doldrums, Chinese football shows hint of life in ACL Elite
Chinese football looked to have hit an all-time low but a glimmer of hope was offered in Tuesday's ACL Elite action.
The new AFC Champions League format explained
AFC club competitions will undergo a revamp in the 2024-25 season -- so what exactly can we expect?
China FA bans 43 after corruption investigation
China's Football Association has banned 43 people for life over allegations of match-fixing and other forms of corruption in the latest effort to weed out graft in the country's notoriously underperforming team sport.
The Postecoglou effect: AFC's next wave of elite soccer managers
ESPN takes a look at seven managers that have made a name for themselves in the AFC, what makes them so great, and where they could go next.
Former Man Utd midfielder Fellaini retires aged 36
Fellaini, who recently finished a four-year stint at Shandong Taishan, said on Instagram that he is bringing his 18-year playing career to an end.
Which of Asian Cup's eliminated teams are heading home with pride and which were disappointments?
Of the eight teams heading home after the group stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, who can be proud of their efforts? And who truly disappointed?
Night of sheer Asian Cup drama sees debutants Tajikistan advance while China hit rock bottom
The Group A action at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup came to a close in dramatic fashion -- as debutants Tajikistan pipped fallen giants China to a last-16 berth.
Who's on course and who's in trouble at halfway mark of the ACL group stage?
With the 2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage at its halfway mark, who's on course for the last 16? And who's in danger of missing out?
What we learned as 2023-24 AFC Champions League got underway
From mixed results for Saudi Arabia's giants to slow starts by Southeast Asia's hopefuls, here's what we learned from the opening action of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League.
Ex-Asian champs Guangzhou relegated from CSL
Two-time Asian champions Guangzhou FC were relegated from the Chinese Super League on Tuesday.
Mooy reunites with Postecoglou at Celtic
Celtic have completed the signing of Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy, the Scottish Premiership champions said on Tuesday.
JDT stay top with Frontale draw; Lion City Sailors denied by Shandong
Johor Darul Ta'zim maintained their unbeaten start to AFC Champions League 2022 with a creditable 0-0 draw against Kawasaki Frontale on Thursday.
Mousa Dembele to retire at end of season
Former Belgium and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele will retire from playing at the end of his contract with Guangzhou City.
Singapore champions Lion City Sailors reinforce ahead of ACL debut with Kim Shin-wook signing
Lion City Sailors have pulled off a coup ahead of their maiden AFC Champions League campaign with the signing of South Korean Kim Shin-wook.
China's Hebei FC on brink of following ex-champions Jiangsu's demise
Hebei FC are on the brink of becoming the second Chinese Super League club to shut their doors this year after ceasing operations on Tuesday.
With China's purse strings tightened, are Qatar now Asia's biggest players?
Following Al Duhail's signing of Toby Alderweireld, Qatar could be positioned to be Asia's biggest transfer market players.
Paulinho signs for Al Ahli after leaving China
Former Brazil international Paulinho has joined Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli after parting ways with Chinese Super League giants Guangzhou.
Guangzhou, Beijing ACL thrashings amplify Chinese football's youth malaise
The woeful displays from Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou in AFC Champions League 2021 hint at bigger problems for Chinese football.
Chinese Super League Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Shenhua | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | +18 | 32 |
| Chengdu Rongcheng | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | +15 | 30 |
| Beijing Guoan | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | +15 | 26 |
| Shanghai Port | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | +10 | 24 |
| Shandong Taishan | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | +5 | 21 |
| Tianjin Jinmen Tiger | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 19 |
| Yunnan Yukun | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 18 |
| Qingdao West Coast | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | -2 | 17 |
| Zhejiang Professional FC | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | +2 | 16 |
| Dalian Yingbo | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -8 | 14 |
| Meizhou Hakka | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -8 | 12 |
| Wuhan Three Towns | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -9 | 12 |
| Henan Songshan Longmen | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -3 | 11 |
| Shenzhen Xinpengcheng | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -13 | 11 |
| Qingdao Hainiu | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -6 | 8 |
| Changchun Yatai | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -14 | 5 |