Being Punekar
Football fans, mark your calendars! The highly-anticipated showdown between Mumbai City FC and Al Hilal is just around the corner, and the pre-registration for tickets will kick off on September 29. This electrifying AFC Champions League match is set to take place on November 6 at the iconic DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and it might just witness the sensational Brazilian superstar, Neymar Jr., making his first appearance on Indian soil.
Mumbai City FC, the reigning Indian Super League Shield Winner, finds itself in Group D of the AFC Champions League alongside formidable opponents, Al Hilal. However, here’s the catch: out of the potential 11,000 tickets for this epic encounter, only 9,000 will be up for grabs for the general public. The remaining 2,000 seats will be reserved for VIP guests, celebrities, and politicians. Due to the immense demand and the sheer significance of this match, ticket prices are expected to be on the higher side, so you’ll want to act fast to secure your spot in the stands.
The match promises to be a football extravaganza as Mumbai City FC takes on Al Hilal, who secured the third spot in the SPL last season. Adding to the excitement is the chance to witness Neymar Jr., the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain sensation, don the Al Hilal jersey. Al Hilal has bolstered its roster with European stars like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ruben Neves, making them a formidable force.
Al Hilal is no stranger to success, having clinched the AFC Champions League title four times and finishing as runners-up on five occasions. Joining Mumbai City and Al Hilal in Group D are FC Nassaji Mazandaran from Iran and PFC Navbahor Namangan from Uzbekistan, who will face off in Pune. The thrilling clashes between Mumbai City FC and these opponents are slated for September 18 and December 4.
Mumbai City FC’s AFC Champions League journey began with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran in the group opener. Despite their best efforts, the Indian football giants couldn’t find the back of the net, with Ehsan Hosseini (34′) and Mohammad Azadi (62′) securing the win for the Iranian side. This early setback has put Mumbai City FC on the defensive in their quest for AFC Champions League glory.
The next test for Mumbai City FC awaits in Tashkent on October 3, where they’ll face Uzbekistan’s Navbahor. This marks Mumbai City FC’s second consecutive appearance in the Asian Champions League, and they are determined to make a mark after a promising debut last season, where they secured victories against Iraq’s Air Force Club but fell short of advancing to the knockout stages.
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