Kuala Lumpur: The group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League has now drawn to a close, with 16 teams progressing to the knockout rounds and 16 sides exiting.
The Continental competition will not return until mid-June but there remain plenty of talking points, not least the-AFC.com’s look back at the facts and figures that have caught the eye so far.
Pass master
Few players’ stats match those of Renato Augusto, with Beijing FC’s Brazilian maestro having completed group stage highs of 444 successful passes and 676 touches – the latter more than a hundred times more than second-placed Oscar (548).
Highlighting his danger further, he was also the most fouled player (26) in the group stage. However, despite his strong showing – which also included 24 chances created (joint top with Oscar) and two assists – the side from the Chinese capital exited at the first hurdle.
Dangerous positions
No player had more touches in the opposition penalty area than Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah, whose 54 touches were seven ahead of the tournament’s leading marksman Leonardo.
But, somewhat surprisingly, the 2018 top scorer has registered just two goals to date, despite also posting more shots on goal (34) and more shots on target (13) than any other player.
90+4' GOAL! @AlSaddSC lead! 1-0!
What a time to score! Baghdad Bounedjah wins the match for Al Sadd after he heads in from point-blank range. #SDDvPER #ACL2019 pic.twitter.com/axdDaMDBAA
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) March 12, 2019
Goals galore
Al Wahda’s Leonardo leads the way in the goalscoring charts, with the Brazilian having netted eight in the group stage, including a four-goal haul in the 4-3 win over Al Rayyan.
Shandong Luneng’s Graziano Pelle, Al Ahli’s Omar Al Soma and Alaa Abbas of the now departed Al Zawraa follow with six goals apiece.
Kawasaki keep-ball
Kawasaki Frontale rarely give the ball away, with the J.League side’s 87 percent passing accuracy and 63 percent possession both group stage highs.
Yet despite their ability to dictate the play, the Japanese champions failed to hit the heights they are capable of as they suffered first round elimination for the second successive year.
The entertainer
Jaloliddin Marsharipov was way out in front when it came to dribbles completed in the group stage, with the Pakhtakor forward managing a hugely impressive total of 36.
The 25-year-old Uzbek international completed 13 more than second-placed Mohammad Reza Hosseini of Zobahan, with Brazilians Ricardo Lopes of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (22) and Shanghai SIPG's Hulk (19) third and fourth respectively.
Solid at the back
Ulsan Hyundai ‘keeper Oh Seung-hoon kept a group stage high four clean sheets as the 2012 champions advanced to the last 16 for the second successive year.
A 5-0 defeat to Shanghai SIPG on Matchday Six – which Oh sat out – meant it was domestic rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors who progressed with the fewest goals conceded, with their goalkeeper Song Beom-keun conceding just three.
Caught in a trap
No player has been caught offside more times that Christian Osaguona, with the Zobahan forward flagged 11 times during the group stage.
But with a goal, two assists and Zobahan comfortably into the knockout stages, the Nigerian has more than played his part in his side’s success so far.
Keeping busy
Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa’s 27 saves was more than any of his counterparts in the group stage, with the Emirati international limiting the damage of a disappointing campaign for his club.
The inaugural champions conceded 10 goals in total, though, and exited at the first hurdle having failed to record a win in their six games.
Photo: Getty Images
Source: the-afc.com