2016 AFC Champions League group stage

The 2016 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 23 February to 4 May 2016.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League.[2]

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 10 December 2015, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.[4][5]

The seeding of each team in the draw was determined by their association and their qualifying position within their association. The mechanism of the draw was as follows:[6]

  • For the West Zone, a draw was held for the three associations with three direct entrants (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups A, B and C. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.
  • For the East Zone, a draw was held for the two associations with three direct entrants (South Korea, Japan) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups E and F. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.

The following 32 teams (16 from West Zone, 16 from East Zone) entered into the group stage draw, which included the 24 direct entrants and the eight winners of the qualifying play-off, whose identity were not known at the time of the draw.[3]

Zone Seed 1 Seed 2 Seed 3 Seed 4
West Zone
(Groups A–D)		 Al-Nassr Al-Hilal Al-Ahli Al-Ittihad (Winner Play-off West 1)
Sepahan Zob Ahan Tractor Sazi El Jaish (Winner Play-off West 2)
Pakhtakor Nasaf Qarshi Lokomotiv Tashkent Bunyodkor (Winner Play-off West 3)
Al-Ain Al-Nasr Lekhwiya Al-Jazira (Winner Play-off West 4)
East Zone
(Groups E–H)		 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC Seoul Suwon Samsung Bluewings Pohang Steelers (Winner Play-off East 1)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Gamba Osaka Urawa Red Diamonds FC Tokyo (Winner Play-off East 2)
Melbourne Victory Sydney FC Buriram United Shandong Luneng (Winner Play-off East 3)
Guangzhou Evergrande Jiangsu Suning Becamex Bình Dương Shanghai SIPG (Winner Play-off East 4)

Format

In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16.[2]

Tiebreakers

The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers would be applied in the following order (Regulations Article 11.5):[2]

  1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
  3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. Greater number of away goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  5. If, after applying criteria 1 to 4, teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 10 apply;
  6. Goal difference in all the group matches;
  7. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
  9. Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
  10. Team who belongs to the member association with the higher AFC ranking.

Schedule

The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1][2]

Matchday Dates Matches
Matchday 1 23–24 February 2016 Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2
Matchday 2 1–2 March 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1
Matchday 3 15–16 March 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3
Matchday 4 5–6 April 2016 Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 5 19–20 April 2016 Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 6 3–4 May 2016 Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4

On 25 January 2016, the AFC announced the following changes to the schedule due to Saudi Arabia's refusal to play in Iran after the attack on their diplomatic missions in Iran and the ensuing deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations:[7]

  • Group A: change matchday 1 (23 February) with matchday 6 (4 May)
  • Group B: change matchday 2 (1 March) with matchday 5 (20 April)
  • Group C: change matchday 1 (24 February) with matchday 6 (3 May)
  • Group D: change matchday 2 (2 March) with matchday 5 (19 April)

After the changes, all matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia (including possible play-off winners) were rescheduled to be played on matchdays 5 and 6 (19–20 April and 3–4 May). The venues of these matches would be decided after an evaluation deadline of 15 March 2016. As there had not been a return to normal relations between the two countries by then with Saudi Arabia refusing to lift their travel restrictions to Iran, the AFC accepted the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's proposal of playing all matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia in neutral venues.[8] This involved a total of six matches, two each in Groups A, B and C (no matches were moved in Group D as the play-off team from Iran failed to advance to the group).

On 31 March 2016, the AFC announced that they have approved the neutral venues, with teams from Iran moving their home matches to Oman, and teams from Saudi Arabia moving their home matches to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.[9]

Groups

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LOK NAS ITT SEP
1 Lokomotiv Tashkent 6 2 4 0 6 3 +3 10 Knockout stage — 0–0 1–1 1–0
2 Al-Nasr 6 2 3 1 5 4 +1 9 1–1 — 0–0 2–0
3 Al-Ittihad 6 2 3 1 9 4 +5 9 1–1 1–2 — 4–0
4 Sepahan 6 1 0 5 2 11 −9 3 0–2 2–0 0–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–1 Al-Ittihad
Mirzaev  89' Report Rivas  34'
Attendance: 2,203
Sepahan 2–0 Al-Nasr
Chimba  14', 51' Report
Attendance: 5,750
Al-Nasr 2–0 Sepahan
Nilmar  57'
Pitroipa  90+3' (pen.)		 Report
Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 3,200
Al-Ittihad 1–1 Lokomotiv Tashkent
Muntari  14' Report Abdukholiqov  80' (pen.)
Attendance: 37,671
Sepahan 0–2 Lokomotiv Tashkent
Report Bikmaev  14'
Mirzaev  86'
Attendance: 1,620
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Al-Ittihad 1–2 Al-Nasr
Rivas  13' Report Nilmar  1', 74'
Attendance: 39,998
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–0 Sepahan
Abdukholiqov  54' Report
Attendance: 2,620
Al-Nasr 0–0 Al-Ittihad
Report
Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 7,250
Al-Nasr 1–1 Lokomotiv Tashkent
Ekoko  31' Report Abdukholiqov  43'
Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 6,246
Al-Ittihad 4–0 Sepahan
Al-Ghamdi  45+2', 86'
Al-Muwallad  83'
Rivas  90+1'		 Report
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar)[note 1]
Attendance: 1,352
Sepahan 0–2 Al-Ittihad
Report Sânmărtean  15'
Al-Nadhri  74'
Attendance: 5,250
Lokomotiv Tashkent 0–0 Al-Nasr
Report
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 3,303

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZOB LEK NSR BYD
1 Zob Ahan 6 4 2 0 12 2 +10 14 Knockout stage — 0–0 3–0 5–2
2 Lekhwiya 6 2 3 1 7 2 +5 9 0–1 — 4–0 0–0
3 Al-Nassr 6 1 2 3 5 14 −9 5 0–3 1–1 — 3–3
4 Bunyodkor 6 0 3 3 5 11 −6 3 0–0 0–2 0–1 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Lekhwiya 0–1 Zob Ahan
Report Rajabzadeh  46'
Attendance: 1,225
Al-Nassr 3–3 Bunyodkor
Mierzejewski  45+1' (pen.)
Al-Shehri  79'
Abdulghani  85'		 Report Khamdamov  3', 76'
Zouaghi  33'
Attendance: 11,138
Bunyodkor 0–1 Al-Nassr
Report Maïga  36'
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 8,027
Zob Ahan 0–0 Lekhwiya
Report
Attendance: 4,000
Bunyodkor 0–0 Zob Ahan
Report
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 4,567
Al-Nassr 1–1 Lekhwiya
Ghaleb  88' (pen.) Report Kaluyituka  7'
Attendance: 8,590
Zob Ahan 5–2 Bunyodkor
Esmaeilifar  3'
Mohammadzadeh  34'
Rajabzadeh  50'
Rezaei  69'
Tabrizi  87'		 Report Zouaghi  78'
Nurmatov  89'
Attendance: 4,523
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Lekhwiya 4–0 Al-Nassr
Nam Tae-hee  49'
Kaluyituka  70'
Flores  84'
Muntari  86'		 Report
Attendance: 4,050
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Bunyodkor 0–2 Lekhwiya
Report Boudiaf  65'
Muntari  79'
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 3,017
Zob Ahan 3–0 Al-Nassr
Pahlavan  27', 83'
Rezaei  74'		 Report
Attendance: 3,400
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Al-Nassr 0–3 Zob Ahan
Report Pahlavan  30'
Hassanzadeh  42' (pen.)
Beikzadeh  87'
Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)[note 1]
Attendance: 886
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Lekhwiya 0–0 Bunyodkor
Report
Attendance: 1,100

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification TRA HIL PAK JAZ
1 Tractor Sazi 6 4 0 2 10 3 +7 12 Knockout stage — 1–2 2–0 4–0
2 Al-Hilal 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11 0–2 — 4–1 1–0
3 Pakhtakor 6 3 1 2 10 9 +1 10 1–0 2–2 — 3–0
4 Al-Jazira 6 0 1 5 2 13 −11 1 0–1 1–1 1–3 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Pakhtakor 2–2 Al-Hilal
Sergeev  70'
Khashimov  89'		 Report Al-Qahtani  60'
Al-Salem  84'
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 3,800
Tractor Sazi 4–0 Al-Jazira
Rahmani  4', 60'
Khalilzadeh  10'
Sharifi  54'		 Report
Attendance: 13,452
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Al-Jazira 0–1 Tractor Sazi
Report Rahmani  31'
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 6,820
Al-Hilal 4–1 Pakhtakor
Al-Zori  55'
Orahovac  58' (o.g.)
Kaabi  61', 78'		 Report Sergeev  31'
Attendance: 9,456
Pakhtakor 1–0 Tractor Sazi
Sergeev  41' Report
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 2,223
Al-Jazira 1–1 Al-Hilal
Juma  90+4' Report Aílton  9'
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 14,372
Tractor Sazi 2–0 Pakhtakor
Augusto  59'
Aghaei  83'		 Report
Attendance: 33,450
Al-Hilal 1–0 Al-Jazira
Aílton  36' Report
Attendance: 10,316
Al-Hilal 0–2 Tractor Sazi
Report Nong  66'
Hatami  81'
Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar)[note 1]
Attendance: 2,642
Al-Jazira 1–3 Pakhtakor
Mabkhout  62' (pen.) Report Karimov  10'
Sergeev  64', 83' (pen.)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 1,292
Pakhtakor 3–0 Al-Jazira
Berdiev  13'
Talipov  24'
Masharipov  80'		 Report
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 4,527
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Tractor Sazi 1–2 Al-Hilal
Nong  48' Report Al-Dawsari  15'
Aílton  71'
Attendance: 8,545

Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JSH AIN AHL NSF
1 El Jaish 6 3 1 2 6 8 −2 10 Knockout stage — 2–1 1–4 1–0
2 Al-Ain 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10 1–2 — 1–0 2–0
3 Al-Ahli 6 3 0 3 10 7 +3 9 2–0 1–2 — 2–1
4 Nasaf Qarshi 6 1 2 3 4 7 −3 5 0–0 1–1 2–1 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Al-Ain 1–2 El Jaish
Douglas  65' (pen.) Report Hamdallah  9'
Romarinho  45'
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 8,226
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
Al-Ahli 2–1 Nasaf Qarshi
Al Fatil  2'
Al-Somah  47'		 Report Abdukhalikov  29'
Attendance: 17,161
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Nasaf Qarshi 2–1 Al-Ahli
Abdukhalikov  47'
Karimov  60'		 Report Assiri  71' (pen.)
Attendance: 16,221
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
El Jaish 2–1 Al-Ain
Hamdallah  49'
Abubakar  79'		 Report Al-Kathiri  86'
Attendance: 6,470
Al-Ain 1–0 Al-Ahli
O. Abdulrahman  71' Report
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 12,473
El Jaish 1–0 Nasaf Qarshi
Rashidov  87' Report
Attendance: 5,240
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Nasaf Qarshi 0–0 El Jaish
Report
Attendance: 16,000
Al-Ahli 1–2 Al-Ain
Al-Amri  90+3' Report Douglas  25', 77'
Attendance: 13,608
Nasaf Qarshi 1–1 Al-Ain
Karimov  1' Report Asprilla  32'
Attendance: 10,952
El Jaish 1–4 Al-Ahli
Hamdallah  51' Report Seraj  22', 57'
Assiri  43'
M. Hawsawi  52'
Attendance: 3,250
Al-Ain 2–0 Nasaf Qarshi
Asprilla  39'
Ahmed  90'		 Report
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 8,163
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
Al-Ahli 2–0 El Jaish
Marquinho  62'
O. Hawsawi  85'		 Report
Attendance: 6,850
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)

Group E
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JHM TOK JIA BBD
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 3 1 2 13 9 +4 10 Knockout stage — 2–1 2–2 2–0
2 FC Tokyo 6 3 1 2 8 8 0 10 0–3 — 0–0 3–1
3 Jiangsu Suning 6 2 3 1 10 7 +3 9 3–2 1–2 — 3–0
4 Becamex Binh Duong 6 1 1 4 6 13 −7 4 3–2 1–2 1–1 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 FC Tokyo
Ko Moo-yeol  39'
Lee Dong-gook  83'		 Report Abe  87'
Attendance: 15,155
Becamex Bình Dương 1–1 Jiangsu Suning
Nguyễn Anh Đức  28' (pen.) Report Ji Xiang  13'
Attendance: 11,800
FC Tokyo 3–1 Becamex Bình Dương
Burns  50'
Bùi Tấn Trường  67' (o.g.)
Maeda  84'		 Report Nguyễn Anh Đức  24'
Attendance: 7,760
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Jiangsu Suning 3–2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Alex Teixeira  16'
Jô  65'
Wu Xi  69'		 Report Lee Dong-gook  62'
Sainsbury  86' (o.g.)
Attendance: 34,175
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–0 Becamex Bình Dương
Ricardo Lopes  41'
Lee Dong-gook  90'		 Report
Attendance: 7,168
FC Tokyo 0–0 Jiangsu Suning
Report
Attendance: 10,265
Becamex Bình Dương 3–2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Nguyễn Anh Đức  12' (pen.), 88' (pen.)
Amougou  35'		 Report Lee Jong-ho  27'
Han Kyo-won  28'
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Jiangsu Suning 1–2 FC Tokyo
Jô  34' (pen.) Report Morishige  30', 83'
Attendance: 45,065
FC Tokyo 0–3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Report Kim Bo-kyung  35'
Lee Jae-sung  60'
Ko Moo-yeol  90+1'
Attendance: 9,056
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Jiangsu Suning 3–0 Becamex Bình Dương
Wu Xi  6'
Jô  8'
Ji Xiang  81'		 Report
Attendance: 33,430
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–2 Jiangsu Suning
Leonardo  19' (pen.)
Lim Jong-eun  69'		 Report Teixeira  24'
Jô  54' (pen.)
Attendance: 17,312
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Becamex Bình Dương 1–2 FC Tokyo
Lê Công Vinh  68' (pen.) Report Maeda  21', 55'
Attendance: 2,800

Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEO SHD HIR BUR
1 FC Seoul 6 4 1 1 17 5 +12 13 Knockout stage — 0–0 4–1 2–1
2 Shandong Luneng 6 3 2 1 7 5 +2 11 1–4 — 1–0 3–0
3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 3 0 3 9 8 +1 9 2–1 1–2 — 3–0
4 Buriram United 6 0 1 5 1 16 −15 1 0–6 0–0 0–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–2 Shandong Luneng
Shimizu  64' Report Yang Xu  67'
Tardelli  78'
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima
Attendance: 5,809
Buriram United 0–6 FC Seoul
Report Adriano  28', 40', 50', 60'
Damjanović  67'
Lee Seok-hyun  90'
New I-Mobile Stadium, Buriram
Attendance: 11,583
FC Seoul 4–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kim Won-sik  31'
Adriano  49', 56', 69'		 Report Chiba  25'
Attendance: 18,115
Shandong Luneng 3–0 Buriram United
Tardelli  65'
Jucilei  81'
Zhao Mingjian  86'		 Report
Attendance: 23,976
Shandong Luneng 1–4 FC Seoul
Jucilei  62' Report Adriano  28', 71'
Go Yo-han  65'
Damjanović  68'
Attendance: 21,921
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3–0 Buriram United
Asano  42', 55'
Shimizu  81'		 Report
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima
Attendance: 6,411
FC Seoul 0–0 Shandong Luneng
Report
Attendance: 10,147
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Buriram United 0–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Report Miyayoshi  45'
Shibasaki  88'
New I-Mobile Stadium, Buriram
Attendance: 5,532
FC Seoul 2–1 Buriram United
Damjanović  24'
Park Yong-woo  43'		 Report Túñez  67' (pen.)
Attendance: 5,109
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–1 FC Seoul
Asano  27'
Minagawa  39'		 Report Adriano  88' (pen.)
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima
Attendance: 13,328
Buriram United 0–0 Shandong Luneng
Report
New I-Mobile Stadium, Buriram
Attendance: 3,832

Group G
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SSI MEL SSB GAM
1 Shanghai SIPG 6 4 0 2 10 8 +2 12 Knockout stage — 3–1 2–1 2–1
2 Melbourne Victory 6 2 3 1 7 7 0 9 2–1 — 0–0 2–1
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6 2 3 1 7 4 +3 9 3–0 1–1 — 0–0
4 Gamba Osaka 6 0 2 4 4 9 −5 2 0–2 1–1 1–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Melbourne Victory 2–1 Shanghai SIPG
Ingham  31'
Berisha  73' (pen.)		 Report Wu Lei  52'
Attendance: 9,701
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–0 Gamba Osaka
Report
Attendance: 9,947
Gamba Osaka 1–1 Melbourne Victory
Endō  57' Report Ansell  3'
Suita City Football Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 14,270
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Shanghai SIPG 2–1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Elkeson  32'
Wu Lei  52'		 Report Jang Hyun-soo  72'
Attendance: 26,351
Referee: Dmitriy Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Melbourne Victory 0–0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Report
Attendance: 7,066
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Shanghai SIPG 2–1 Gamba Osaka
Elkeson  41', 62' Report Patric  60'
Attendance: 29,005
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Gamba Osaka 0–2 Shanghai SIPG
Report Wu Lei  66'
Lü Wenjun  72'
Suita City Football Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 14,756
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–1 Melbourne Victory
Kwon Chang-hoon  58' Report Barbarouses  60'
Attendance: 6,123
Gamba Osaka 1–2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Konno  89' Report Santos  49', 57' (pen.)
Suita City Football Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 10,846
Shanghai SIPG 3–1 Melbourne Victory
Yu Hai  38'
Elkeson  40'
Conca  65' (pen.)		 Report Makarounas  81'
Attendance: 32,355
Melbourne Victory 2–1 Gamba Osaka
Berisha  13' (pen.)
Thompson  17'		 Report Ademilson  85'
Attendance: 10,147
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–0 Shanghai SIPG
Kim Gun-hee  7' (pen.), 54'
Min Sang-gi  52'		 Report
Attendance: 4,277
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Group H
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SYD URA GZE POH
1 Sydney FC 6 3 1 2 4 4 0 10 Knockout stage — 0–0 2–1 1–0
2 Urawa Red Diamonds 6 2 3 1 6 4 +2 9 2–0 — 1–0 1–1
3 Guangzhou Evergrande 6 2 2 2 6 5 +1 8 1–0 2–2 — 0–0
4 Pohang Steelers 6 1 2 3 2 5 −3 5 0–1 1–0 0–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Urawa Red Diamonds 2–0 Sydney FC
Muto  8'
Koroki  65' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 19,500
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)
Guangzhou Evergrande 0–0 Pohang Steelers
Report
Attendance: 571[note 2]
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (Iraq)
Sydney FC 2–1 Guangzhou Evergrande
Stambolziev  18'
Dimitrijević  89'		 Report Calver  25' (o.g.)
Attendance: 18,149
Pohang Steelers 1–0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Son Jun-ho  19' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 7,000
Pohang Steelers 0–1 Sydney FC
Report Naumoff  41'
Attendance: 4,247
Guangzhou Evergrande 2–2 Urawa Red Diamonds
Goulart  6' (pen.), 14' Report Muto  30'
Koroki  89'
Attendance: 48,816
Sydney FC 1–0 Pohang Steelers
Ninković  51' Report
Attendance: 5,642
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 Guangzhou Evergrande
Muto  52' Report
Attendance: 30,282
Pohang Steelers 0–2 Guangzhou Evergrande
Report Goulart  33'
Gao Lin  47'
Attendance: 9,274
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Sydney FC 0–0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Report
Attendance: 8,803
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Guangzhou Evergrande 1–0 Sydney FC
Gao Lin  2' Report
Attendance: 33,517
Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 Pohang Steelers
Ljubijankić  87' (pen.) Report Veselinović  65' (pen.)
Attendance: 32,409

Notes
  1. Matches between teams from Iran and Saudi Arabia were played on neutral venues due to deterioration of Iran–Saudi Arabia relations.[8]
  2. Guangzhou Evergrande played their first group stage home match behind closed doors due to breaches of the AFC Champions League Regulations.[10]

References
  1. "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2016" (PDF). AFC.
  2. "2016 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC. 28 November 2015.
  3. "Champions Guangzhou Evergrande to learn ACL 2016 opponents". AFC. 4 December 2015.
  4. "AFC Champions League 2016 Group Stage Draw". AFC. 10 December 2015.
  5. "ACL 2016 Draw Results" (PDF). AFC.
  6. "AFC Champions League 2016: Official Draw". AFC.
  7. "Decisions following AFC Competitions Committee meeting". AFC. 25 January 2016.
  8. "Saudi Arabia and Iran clubs to play at neutral venues in Champions League". AFC. 16 March 2016.
  9. "IR Iran and Saudi Arabia ACL clubs to play in Oman, Qatar and UAE". AFC. 31 March 2016.
  10. "Guangzhou Evergrande Sanctioned For Regulatory Violations At AFC Champions League Final 2015". AFC. 3 February 2016.
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