Cristiano Ronaldo's Quest for First Asian Championship Begins With Japan Challenge

Cristiano Ronaldo's team, Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia, has been paired against last season's runners-up, Yokohama F-Marinos from Japan, in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. Despite his impressive record of five UEFA Champions League titles, Ronaldo has yet to win the top club competition in Asia. The 40-year-old Portuguese star will lead Al Nassr in their upcoming match against Yokohama, who are managed by Steve Holland, formerly an assistant to Gareth Southgate with the England national team.

The quarter-finals, semis and final of the tournament, which has been rebranded the Champions League Elite, will all take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah over one leg.

Al Nassr or Yokohama will play the winners of the last-eight clash between Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and Al Sadd of Qatar.

Four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, also of Saudi Arabia, face South Korea's Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals.

The winner will face Thailand's Buriram United or Al Ahli, also of Saudi Arabia, in the semi-finals.

All four quarter-finals take place on April 25-27.

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The semi-finals are on April 29 and April 30. The final is on May 3.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)