BG Pathum get champions Ulsan Hyundai in ACL draw

BG Pathum get champions Ulsan Hyundai in ACL draw

Dusit Chalermsan
Dusit Chalermsan

Debutants BG Pathum United of Thailand will face holders Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea in the AFC Champions League following Wednesday's draw.

The other two teams in Group F are Vietnam's Viettel, another newcomers, and the winner of a play-off featuring Australia's Brisbane Roar, Kaya-Iloilo of the Philippines and Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.

BG, coached by Dusit Chalermsan, are currently Thai League 1 leaders.

Forty teams will participate in the group phase of the competition -- an increase from 32 last year -- with the winners of each group plus the three best runners-up from the west and east regions advancing to the last 16.

Thailand's Port are in Group J with China's Shandong Luneng, Hong Kong's Kitchee and a play-off winner.

Chiang Rai United and Ratchaburi, the other two Thai League 1 teams in the competition, will have to play in the play-offs for places in the group phase.

If debutants Ratchaburi are successful in the play-offs, they will be in Group G with Jiangsu (China), Nagoya Grampus (Japan) and Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia).

If reigning Thai champions Chiang Rai get past the play-offs, they will face two Asian giants in Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and China's Guangzhou FC (formerly Guangzhou Evergrande) as well as United City (Philippines).

Matches are scheduled to begin in April, with the knockout rounds slated to be played from mid-September.

The final will be held over two legs on Nov 21 and Nov 27.

T1 schedule

Thai League on Wednesday announced the top-flight schedule when it restarts next month.

Thai League 1 is being suspended for one month due to a new surge in Covid-19 cases and will resume on Feb 6.

However, the rearranged match between Chiang Rai and Port will take place on Jan 31.

On Feb 6, it's Trat v Chiang Rai, Buriram v Ratchaburi, Port v Sukhothai, and Police Tero v BG Pathum.

On Feb 7, it's Muang Thong v Rayong, Prachuap v Suphanburi, Nakhon Ratchasima v Chonburi, and Bangkok United v Samut Prakan.

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