The bitterness of an own goal against the sweetness of a title celebrated in front of your own fans. The sadness over the misfortune of André Carrillo, a Saudi Al-Hilal player, in the face of the joyful disbelief of the Japanese Urawa Red Diamond fans. The last final of the AFC Champions League was a reflection of the idiosyncrasy of the competition: a sea of contrasts, mainly due to its geographical extension. And now it also stands out not because of its exoticism, but thanks to the variety and quality of established players recognized by fans from other continents.
In fact, in recent years Asian football has stopped being an idyllic retreat for veteran players and has become a competitive reality, especially after the arrival of players like Neymar Jr. or Cristiano Ronaldo.
For all these reasons, LALIGA, the official streaming television platform (OTT) of LALIGA, has dedicated itself to offering the Asian Champions League exclusively in Spain. All through the International Football plan, which includes content such as the Copa Libertadores or the Brazilian league and costs €4.99 per month or €39.99 per year. A unique opportunity to follow these competitions exclusively in Spain.
Founded in 1967 under the name 'Asian Club Cup', later renamed in 2002 to the current nomenclature, AFC Champions League, it has evolved non-stop since then. Japan and South Korea have been the historically hegemonic countries in the competition, but over time other nations such as Qatar or China have also invested in the beautiful sport. What started with the incorporation of quality players moved to the development of infrastructure with one reason: to attract fans.
The extension of Asia is reflected in the AFC Champions League. Like last season, the tournament has a total of 40 participants from 20 countries, organized in an initial group stage that is divided into two regions, the west and the east, with 20 teams from 10 different countries. In short, it is a distribution marked by the territory.
Another aspect that does not change in the 42nd edition of the Asian Champions League is that the big favorites for the title come from Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. The Japanese Yokohama F. Marinos, the South Korean Ulsan Hyundai and the Saudi Al-Ittihad are the respective champions of their leagues, so they are the main candidates for success. Their favoritism is another reflection of the existing game of thrones in the competition: since 2003, there have only been four years in which a team from a country other than these three has won.
The respective champions are joined by three other clubs that also dream of winning the title: the current champion, the Japanese Urawa Reds; the South Korean Pohang Steelers and the Saudi Al-Hilal. None of the three teams have had the best performance in their respective countries, but they understand the idiosyncrasies of the AFC Champions League like practically no other rival.
Al-Hilal is the most successful entity in the history of the competition, with a total of four titles, followed by the three of Urawa Reds and Pohang Steelers. The Middle Eastern team, now led by Neymar Jr., has won two titles -2019 and 2021- in the last four years. The last one was achieved in a single-match final, a rarity in this tournament. However, the Saitama 'Red Devils' snatched their fifth trophy last season with André Carrillo's own goal that we mentioned at the beginning of this article.
While Al-Hilal wants to vindicate itself, both Pohang Steelers and Urawa Reds are ambitious with the aim of equaling the team led by Jorge Jesús in titles. It is also a national issue in two countries where codes of honor are deeply rooted in their society. South Korea has one objective, whether through the Steelers or any of its representatives: to maintain its position as the most successful country in the AFC Champions League with a total of 12 titles. Japan follows with eight and Saudi Arabia with six. The dispute for hegemony in the Asian Champions League is more than alive.
But in this edition the contrast of models is also at stake, that is, the model of Saudi commitment to international stars against 'training' in the East. It should be noted that the competition regulations affect clubs that bet on non-Asian players more, since the AFC only allows the registration of five foreigners. For this reason, Al-Hilal himself has had to do without Yassine Bounou in goal.
The 42nd edition of the AFC Champions League will be the one of stardom, the most in the media thanks to the arrival of world 'cracks' from Europe. Furthermore, the Asian Champions also draws on Spanish players. In addition to having the presence of well-known faces from LALIGA, the competition also has the presence of internationals from Spain. An example is that of Aymeric Laporte at Al-Nassr, who cuts balls and delivers the ball with the same neatness with which he shone at Athletic Club; but there is also Paco Alcácer, who at Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates maintains the tradition that he had as a 'ché': shooting with precision in front of goal.
The case of Jordi Amat is different, who experienced how a story came true. The former player of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano was not international for Spain, but for Indonesia. His grandmother was born in this Southeast Asian country and that is why, in 2022, Amat obtained not only nationality, but also the title of rajah of the island of Siau. Currently, he plays as a defender for Johor Darul Ta'zim, the current champion and dominator of the Malaysia Super League: the club has not lost any domestic championship since 2014. This club is precisely the one with the most Spanish representatives in the AFC Champions League , since Amat is accompanied by Natxo Insa, Juan Muñiz and Óscar Arribas.
Jordi Amat is not the only player who has experienced caroms in his life. Equally iconic is the life experience of José Kanté. A player raised in Sabadell (Barcelona), but international with Equatorial Guinea and who has won continental titles. Last season Kanté culminated a history of improvement in the competition by becoming champion with Urawa Reds. After a whole career between Spain, Cyprus and Poland, he packed his bags for Asia with the Kazakh team, Kairat Almaty. From there he made the jump to the Chinese Cangzhou Mighty Lions, where he scored 14 goals in 16 games. Thanks to the AFC Champions League he played and enjoyed the most important game and with the best reward for any athlete: kissing the metal.
For the moment, the 42nd edition has already left another image to remember, that of two Spaniards facing each other. Tiri Espinosa and Nono, players from Mumbai City and Nassaji Mazandaran respectively, faced each other on the first day in a match in which the former Betic player emerged victorious after Nassaji's 0-2 draw.
This season, the high expectations surrounding the AFC Champions League on a sporting level are being met. In the West Region, both Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Neymar's Al-Hilal lead their respective groups. Víctor Ruiz's Al-Ittihad and Al-Fayha occupy second place. In the Eastern Region, the trend continues to be set by both Japanese and South Korean teams. Group J is the tightest of all, as it has Pohang Steelers in first position and Urawa Red in second. It is also worth highlighting the leadership of the Australian Melbourne City. Australia, which has been part of the Asian Confederation since 2006, is fighting to win the Asian Champions again and repeat the feat of 2014.
The AFC Champions League is a continental competition where contrasts come together under the emotion of football, a sensation that also occurs in competitions such as the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.
LALIGA offers these and more top-level competitions thanks to the international football package - with leagues such as the Brazilian one - for only 4.99 euros per month. The platform is positioned as a unique space to continue enjoying the stars Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar Jr. who in the past amazed Spain.
But, in addition, with the aim of giving visibility to other types of sports and offering diversity to users, this OTT offers other plans beyond international football, such as basketball, handball or volleyball. Being able to choose between packages adjusted to the preferences of the viewers or choosing the complete plan for only €14.99 per month. Whatever your interests and the distance from the competitions, LALIGA makes them close.
