Melbourne and Adelaide have had contrasting fortunes at the draw for the 2008 Champions League, with the Reds facing the Korean and Chinese champions in the group stage, while the Victory looks to have an easier run.
The Victory are in Group G alongside Thai champion Chonburi, perennial Japanese powerhouse Gamba Osaka and Korean side Chunnam Dragons in a boost for the current Hyundai A-League champions.
Gamba Osaka won this year's J-League Cup but finished third in the J-League while Chunnam Dragons were the Korean FA Cup champions. While both are high-quality teams, they are not considered the best in either of their countries. Chonburi won the Thai league in 2007 but are not expected to provide a major obstacle for the other three given the lack of strength in Thai football.
Chunnam competed in the 2007 edition of the ACL, but finished second in Group F, six points behind group winners Kawasaki Frontale. The Dragons finished tenth in the 2007 edition of the K-League.
Gamba Osaka's last Champions League appearance was in 2006 where they didn't get through to the knockout stages despite a 15-0 win over Vietnamese side Da Nang.
Adelaide fared much worse, with 2007 K-League champions the Pohang Steelers and Chinese Super League champion Changchun Yatai also in Group E. Vietnamese side Binh Duong are expected to struggle against the superior opposition.
Pohang Steelers won the AFC Champions League twice, in 1997 and 1998, while Changchun Yatai, who were only promoted to the Chinese top flight in 2006, surprised by winning last year's Chinese title.
The winner of each of the seven groups will progress to the quarter-finals stage along with the current champions, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.
AFC Champions League 2008 - Groups
Group A:
A1: Sepahan (Iran)
A2: Kuruvchi (Uzbekistan)
A3: Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
A4: Al Ittihad (Syria)
Group B:
B1: Al Wasl (UAE)
B2: Saipa FC (Iran)
B3: Kuwait SC (Kuwait)
B4: Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq)
Group C:
C1: Al Sadd (Qatar)
C2: Al Wahda (UAE)
C3: Al Karama (Syria)
C4: Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Group D:
D1: Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
D2: Al Gharafa (Qatar)
D3: Arbil (Iraq)
D4: Qadsiya FC (Kuwait)
Group E:
E1: Changchun Yatai (China)
E2: Adelaide Utd (Australia)
E3: Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic)
E4: Binh Duong (Vietnam)
Group F:
F1: Krung Thai Bank FC (Thailand)
F2: Beijing Guo’an (China)
F3: Nam Dinh (Vietnam)
F4: Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Group G:
G1: Melbourne Victory (Australia)
G2: Chonburi FC (Thailand)
G3: Gamba Osaka (Japan)
G4: Chunnam Dragons (Korea Republic)
AFC Champions League 2007 Champions – Urawa Reds (Japan)
AFC Champions League 2008 - Match Day Schedule
Match Day 1: Wednesday 12 March 2008
Match Day 2: Wednesday 19 March 2008
Match Day 3: Wednesday 9 April 2008
Match Day 4: Wednesday 23 April 2008
Match Day 5: Wednesday 7 May 2008
Match Day 6: Wednesday 21 May 2008
Match Day 7: 17 September 2008 (Quarter-Final 1st Leg)
Match Day 8: 24 September 2008 (Quarter-Final 2nd Leg)
Match Day 9: 8 October 2007 (Semi-Final 1st Leg)
Match Day 10: 22 October 2007 (Semi-Final 2nd Leg)
Match Day 11: 5 November 2007 (Final 1st Leg)
Match Day 12: 12 November 2007 (Final 2nd Leg)