Unlike the top-tier Asian Champions League Elite, which uses a league phase similar to the newly reformatted UEFA club competitions, the second-tier Champions League 2 still runs the old 'group stage' system with eight groups of four clubs - four from AFC West and four from AFC East - playing one another at home and away.
The group stage will run over six matchdays from September 15-16 to December 8-9, presenting both the Reds and the Victory with a significant challenge in balancing continental football with their A-League ambitions.
Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.
