The Asian AFC Champions League Elite kicked off alongside other major club competitions around the world. The league phase is already halfway through, so it is now possible to get an overview of who is doing well and who is disappointing in the competition. Here, you will find a summary of the championship so far, with the best and worst teams and which players are standing out.
In addition, you will better understand the new format of the AFC Champions League Elite, which is being played for only the second time. This way, you will be better informed to place your bets at Bizbet.
New format of the AFC Champions League Elite
The AFC Champions League underwent profound changes in the 2024/2025 season, including its name, which was changed to AFC Champions League Elite. The number of teams decreased from 40 to 24 in the league phase, making the matches more interesting for everyone. It is worth remembering that the tournament is reaching a much wider audience thanks to the arrival of world-class players to Saudi Arabian teams following the country’s huge investment in football.
The 24 teams in the Elite phase are divided into two groups, East and West. During the league phase, each team plays 8 matches against teams in the same group. Then, the top 8 teams in each group qualify for the round of 16. Then, teams from the same group face each other in the first knockout phase. The matches are defined as follows:
- First place in the group against eighth place in the group
- Second place in the group against seventh place in the group
- Third place in the group against sixth place in the group
- Fourth place in the group against fifth place in the group.
The round of 16 is then played in home and away matches. However, from the quarterfinals onwards, all knockout games are decided in a single match, always played on a neutral field.
Best teams so far
The highlight of the AFC Champions League Elite so far is Al-Hilal. No wonder, as the Saudi Arabian team recently proved to be the best on the continent by eliminating the mighty Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup and reaching the quarterfinals of the competition. The team is the only one to have a 100% record in the league phase so far, with four games and four wins. Among the team’s highlights are:
- Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo
- Senegalese defender Koulibaly
- Moroccan goalkeeper Bounou
- Uruguayan striker Darwin Nuñez
- Portuguese midfielder Rubén Neves
- French left-back Theo Hernández
- Brazilian winger Malcom
In addition to its great players, it is worth remembering that Al Hilal is led by Italian Simone Inzaghi, who stood out at Internazionale Milan and took the team to the final of the last UEFA Champions League. The coach is known for his strong defense and appreciation of team play.
A less talked-about team that is also doing very well in the competition is Al-Wahda, from the United Arab Emirates. Without any big stars, the team is in second place in the West group, behind only Al-Hilal, with 10 points in 4 games. In other words, they are still undefeated.
In the East group, no team stands out as much. For now, Ulsan, from South Korea, is standing out, but not by as much as in the West group.
Standout players
Surprisingly, the players who are standing out the most so far in the AFC Champions League Elite are not the big global stars from the teams with the biggest investments in Saudi Arabia. The tournament’s top scorers so far are Joselu of Al Gharafa, Enzo Milot of Al Ahli, and Taisei Miyashiro of Vissel Kobe. Each of them has scored three goals. Although Milot and Joselu are well known in Europe and have played for some of the continent’s biggest clubs, they are not at the level of the most talked-about players.
In terms of assists, two players stand out: Fede Cartabia, from Shabab Al-Ahli, and Yacine Brahimi, from Al Gharafa. Both have three assists in the competition.
According to the SofaScore platform, which analyzes much more than just goals and assists, these are the top players in the tournament so far:
| Player | Team | Average rating |
| Houssem Aouar | Al Ittihad | 8.0 |
| Taisei Miyashiro | Vissel Kobe | 7.93 |
| Rubén Neves | Al Hilal | 7.93 |
Disappointments
Probably the biggest disappointment of the tournament so far is Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia. The team is one of those that has received large investments from the country’s fund and has only one win and two losses in three games. It is worth remembering that the team also has prominent players from world football, such as Moussa Diaby, Fabinho, Steven Bergwijn, and French stars Kanté and Benzema.
How to use information about the AFC Champions League Elite to bet on Bizbet
It is possible to make money betting on the AFC Champions League Elite. If you like long-term bets, keep an eye on the odds for the title favorites according to what we classify as the best teams.
To bet on each round, study the statistics, and keep an eye on the live matches. Then, you can take advantage of the Bizbet Welcome Bonus to start betting with more money. If you prefer European championships, it’s worth checking out the top signings from the last transfer window and analyzing which teams have become stronger.