Defending champion Gamba Osaka will face FC Seoul, Shandong Luneng and Sriwijaya in the group stage of the next Asian Champions League. The 2009 tournament, which starts in March, will be revamped from previous editions and will be made up of 32 teams from 10 countries separated into eight groups. The new format is weighted toward the major leagues, with Japan, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran each having four teams in the group stage. Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab was put into Group B with Persepolis of Iran, Al-Gharafa of Qatar and either Dempo of India or Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates, subject to another playoff. Two-time champion Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia was drawn into Group C along with Al-Jazira of the United Arab Emirates, 1990 champion Esteghlal of Iran and Umm Salal of Qatar. In Group A, it's Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates and Saba Battery of Iran. Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, Al-Shabab of the United Arab Emirates, Foolad Sepahan of Iran and Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia are in Group D. “The draw is a fair one and this season's league will be professionally run and the teams will have to be prepared,” Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam said. Gamba Osaka beat Adelaide United of Australia in last year's final. In this year's tournament, the Japanese team will have to get through FC Seoul of South Korea, Shandong Luneng of China and Sriwijaya of Indonesia in Group F. Japanese champion and four-time quarterfinalist Kashima Antlers was drawn into Group G with Shanghai Shenhua of China, Suwon Samsung of South Korea and either PSMS Medan of Indonesia, Armed Forces of Singapore or PEA of Thailand, with the final opponent to be decided by a playoff in February. Rounding out the Japanese clubs, Kawasaki Frontale is in Group H with Central Coast Mariners of Australia, Tianjin Teda of China and Pohang Steelers of South Korea, while Nagoya Grampus Eight is in Group E with Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea, Beijing Guoan of China and Newcastle Jets of Australia. “The Newcastle Jets and ourselves stayed away from the more difficult groups and it would be fair to say that we're quite happy with the draw,” Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stages.
