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2017 AFC Champions League drawing results unveiled

Xinhua, December 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande would face a fresh opponent in the 2017 edition of the AFC Champions League as the team tries to bounce back from an early elimination in 2016.

The two-time champions was drawn into Group G with Eastern SC of Hong Kong, Suwon Samsung Bluewings from South Korea and a Japanese club, to be decided by the still ongoing domestic knock-out club result.

The geographical proximity of Hong Kong and Guangzhou is likely to hand some advantages to the Chinese giant against its group rivals.

The team has recovered from a surprising early bow-out at group stage as defending champion in the 2016 AFC Champions League, winning both the domestic league title and the FA Cup champion.

Jiangsu Sunning was given an opportunity to challenge the recently crowned AFC Champions League winner Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. The two teams would be joined by Australia's Adelaide United and a play-off winner in Group H.

The other two Chinese clubs -- Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua will start their journeys from play-off stage. If prevails, Shanghai SIPG will face Japanese league champion Kashima Antlers, Muangthong United from Thailand in Group E; while its cross town rival would be grouped with South Korean Champion FC Seoul and 2014 AFC Champions League winner Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia.

In the West Zone, this year' s beaten finalists Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates will begin their latest AFC Champions League campaign from Group C where they are set to face formidable foes in the shape of Al Ahli FC from Saudi Arabia, Iran's Zobahan FC and the winner of the play-off between Qatar's El Jaish SC and FC Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan. Endit