As the 2023 season gets underway, teams from all regions are fighting for a place in the top tier of the competition. For Asian teams, the AFC Champions League is undoubtedly the most lucrative arena, and the big guns are looking forward to the competition, hoping that their teams will come out on top.
The dust has settled on the top 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and the final eight will be decided by a draw in a format quite similar to the Champions League.
In Group C, leaders Jeddah United, Group D frontrunners Riyadh Crescent, and Group E table-toppers Riyadh Victory are certainly in the spotlight. Jeddah United have superstars like Benzema and Kante, while Riyadh Crescent have Milinkovic-Savic, Neves and Mitrovic, with Neymar giving his team "secret support". Ronaldo's leadership, assisted by Brozo and Mane, makes these stars shine.
The fact that they are expected to laugh their way through the group stage not only highlights their strength. Jeddah United are trying to get back to their former glory with a new coach and players, and Benzema's role has been indispensable. Crescent solidified their lead at the top of the table with a win in the Riyadh Derby, and their fans were reassured by the excellent play of their players. As for Victory, Portugal's legendary "King of the Champions League" will not want to be left behind in Asia.
From this, it seems that the competition is bound to be exceptionally fierce.
In addition to these glittering superstars, the rise of the Uzbekistan team has been unexpected. With Naseef leading the way at the top of Group B and Naaman's Spring Festival ranked second in Group D, the results have been a delight for Uzbekistan, who are thriving and making great strides in their green endeavors.
In the past, most of these honors were monopolized by teams such as the UAE and Iran, but now Uzbekistan has joined the fray, which was a no-brainer in the past. The rapid promotion of the music sector has helped boost the national team's performance. The key is that they don't have many foreigners who actually play a limited role, relying more on local players, which is a worthwhile learning point for the Chinese Super League.
On the contrary, we, Shandong team advanced more or less let people some disappointment. When the clubs prosper, the national team is naturally prosperous; when the national brand is successful, the clubs are motivated to fight. This equation will always hold true, and Uzbekistan will soon become a formidable opponent for our national team. If we rest on our laurels, I'm afraid we'll go backwards without advancing. After all, the progress of our opponents will bring great confidence, which is crucial to winning or losing the game.
