Asian Champions League: Ronaldo, Neymar and Al Ain discover group-stage opponents

UAE representatives Al Ain and Sharjah have discovered their opponents for the group stage of the Asian Champions League, with both avoiding showdowns with Saudi Arabia's heavyweight clubs.

Al Ain, the 2021/22 Adnoc Pro League champions, have been drawn in Group A and while they will face a team from Saudi Arabia, it will not be one of the three sides significantly strengthened by the summer transfer window.

Instead, the Garden City club will take on debutants Al Fayha, the surprise winners of the 2022 King's Cup, as well as Uzbekistan league champions Pakhtakor and Turkmenistan league and cup winners Ahal.

Sharjah, back-to-back President's Cup winners, were placed in Group B with 201/22 Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd, 2022 Uzbekistan Cup winners FC Nasaf, and 2022 Jordanian Pro League champions Al Faisaly.

Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad – one of the clubs to benefit from the financial support of the Public Investment Fund and who will be led in the Champions League by Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema – were drawn in Group C.

Back-to-back Champions League winners in 2004 and 2005, Ittihad will face Sepahan SC of Iran, Iraq’s Air Force Club and Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC.

Group D is where record four-time winners Al Hilal have been placed as the Riyadh giants aim to go one better than last season's final defeat to Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.

Hilal have been transformed this summer with the arrivals of Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Kalidou Koulibably and Yassine Bounou, and will be firm favourites in a group also containing Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran, Mumbai City of India and Navbahor of Uzbekistan.

Group E is the fifth and final group in the West section of the draw and