By Lachlan Mitchell
Melbourne City has its sight on Asia.
After its stellar championship winning 20/21 season, the boys from Casey will take on the rest of the continent.
The Asian Champions League fixtures will take place from April 15 to May 1 in a jam-packed 16 days of football.
City has drawn Group G, and is set to face the likes of Thailand BG Pathum United, Filipino Club United City and South Korea’s Jeonnam Dragons.
Melbourne City will play all sides twice in an attempt to feature in the round-of-16 in August.
This will be City’s debut in the League since the competitions inception in 1967.
City’s first match is on April 15 against BG Pathum United.
BG Pathum United was managed by former Australian captain Aurelio Vidmar, the ex-Socceroo led the side through the 2021 version of the tournament.
Under Vidmar’s guidance United won four out of six group matches.
BG Pathum crashed out of the tournament in the round-of-16 losing on penalties.
Vidmar’s 65 per cent winning rate wasn’t enough to see him keep his job, as he was sacked in November 2021 after the last Champions League tournament.
The Thai side currently sit second in the Thailand League, coming off an 11-game winning streak.
All of Melbourne’s City’s matches will be played in Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Australia will have two sides in the tournament, with Sydney FC also featuring.
Australian teams are no stranger to the Asian Champions League, with the Western Sydney Wanderers taking home the title in 2014.
