Ronaldo faces Japan test in bid for maiden Asian crown

BSS
Published On: 17 Mar 2025, 14:34

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi side Al Nassr were on Monday drawn against last season's runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League.

Veteran former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia's top club competition.

The 40-year-old Portuguese will spearhead Al Nassr's hopes next month against a Yokohama side managed by Steve Holland, formerly Gareth Southgate's assistant with England.

The quarter-finals, semis and final of the tournament, which has been rebranded the Champions League Elite, will all take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah over one leg.

Al Nassr or Yokohama will play the winners of the last-eight clash between Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and Al Sadd of Qatar.

Four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, also of Saudi Arabia, face South Korea's Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals.

The winner will face Thailand's Buriram United or Al Ahli, also of Saudi Arabia, in the semi-finals.

All four quarter-finals take place on April 25-27.

The semi-finals are on April 29 and April 30. The final is on May 3.

  • Latest
  • Most Viewed
EU pact could stop 'hostile' states using migrants for politics: rights agency
Japan PM plans to resign after election debacle: local media
Pacific nation ponders taking asylum seekers from US
Macron-Merz to hold talks on NATO and EU-US trade row
Ukraine curbs anti-corruption agencies, sparking rare protests
Tokyo's Nikkei leads Asian rally after Japan-US trade deal
Trump announces 'massive' Japan trade deal including 15% tariff
Defence spending not in US-Japan deal: Tokyo
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne dead aged 76
Clashes between Somali army and regional forces kill five
১০