Bengaluru FC to face Jordan's Al-Wehdat in AFC Champions League 2017 Preliminary Round 2

BENGALURU FC ARE set to face Al-wehdat SC, a club from Jordan, in their first match in the AFC Champions League 2017.

The Blues, who earned their spot in the highest club competition of Asia by winning the I-League 2015-16, will face the Jordanian club away from home in the second priliminary round of the ACL; a one-off knockout game. 

This is the first time an Indian club has been allowed to come in at the second priliminary round (PR2) - separated from the group stage only by the playoff round that comes after it - in the prestigious continental championship. Before this, Mohun Bagan were the only club to reach PR2, and they did that by beating Tampines Rovers in PR1. It's also the first time an Indian club has been paired directly with a West Asian club.

Al-Wehdat, who won the 2015-16 season of the Jordanian top division league, are one of the most successful clubs in their country. They have won the Jordan League 15 times, their FA Cup 10 times, the Shield 8 times and the Super Cup 12 times. Their best performance in AFC Cup came in 2011 when they reached the semi-finals - not as good as Bengaluru FC who reached the finals of AFC Cup 2016 - but their AFC Champions League record is better than that of the Blues; they reached the Play-off round in ACL 2016. The only previous time Bengaluru FC were in the ACL, they didn't make it past PR1. 

When these two teams meet on 31st January 2017, the Indian champions will look to register their first ever win in the AFC Champions League competition and make history by becoming the very first Indian club to make it to the AFC Play-off round.
 

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