Mumbai City FC will begin its AFC Champions League marketing campaign towards Nassaji Mazandaran on September 18 and can play Saudi Pro League big Al Hilal on November 6, 2023.
The Indian Super League Shield Winner was drawn in Group D within the Champions League on Wednesday, confirming a mach towards Al HIlal, which has signed a number of European stars this summer season, together with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves and Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
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The Islanders will begin its Champions League marketing campaign towards Iranian aspect Nassaji Mazandaran on September 18 on the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, their dwelling stadium for the Champions League this time.
It will then journey to Uzbekistan to play Navbahor after which to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to lock horns towards Al Hilal. It will play the return leg towards the identical aspect, two weeks later in Pune.
“The teams in the AFC Champions League, they’re the best in their own country. As coaches and players, we always want to test ourselves against the best. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to continue what we did last time around and to showcase what Indian football can do on that stage,” Des Buckingham, the top coach of Mumbai City FC, informed after the draw.
“We’re looking forward to giving a good account of ourselves against the likes of Al Hilal, Nassaji and Navbahor – some of the best clubs in Asia – and represent not just Mumbai but Indian football as a whole in the best way possible.”
Mumbai City FC’s schedule for AFC Champions League group-stage
September 18, 2023: Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran – Pune, India – 7:30 pm IST
October 3, 2023: Navbahor Namangan vs Mumbai City FC – Namangan, Uzbekistan – 7:30 pm IST
October 23, 2023: Al Hilal SFC vs Mumbai City FC – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 11:30 pm IST
November 6, 2023: Mumbai City FC vs Al Hilal SFC – Pune, India – 7:30 pm IST
November 28, 2023: Nassaji Mazandaran vs Mumbai City FC – Tehran, Iran – 9:30 pm
December 4, 2023: Mumbai City FC vs Navbahor Namangan – Pune, India – 9:30 pm IST
Mumbai City FC secured its second look in Asia’s largest membership soccer competitors after lifting the 2022-23 Indian Super League Winners’ Shield after which subsequently defeating 2021-22 ISL Shield Winner, Jamshedpur FC, 3-1 in a single-leg playoff in April 2023.
The Islanders created historical past of their maiden AFC Champions League look in April 2022 after ending second in Group B behind Saudi Arabian membership Al Shabab, narrowly lacking out on a spot within the knockout rounds.
Des Buckingham’s aspect secured two wins within the course of – each towards Iraq’s Air Force Club – and have become the primary Indian membership to win a sport on the AFC Champions League.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com