Mumbai City face Nassaji Mazandaran in AFC Champions League opener

Pune: Mumbai City FC will be up against Iranian side Nassaji Mazandaran FC in the AFC Champions league (ACL) 2023 group stage clash at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Monday.
A win for either side will amplify their chances of qualifying for the next round of AFC Champions league.
Mumbai City FC played in the ACL in the 2022 season and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the knockout rounds after finishing second in the group stage.
Having impressed in their AFC Champions League debut last year, Mumbai City will be hoping to scale even greater heights in the 2023-24 edition.
In a memorable debut, Mumbai City became the first Indian team to win an AFC Champions League match en route to a second-place finish in Group B.
They, however, missed out on a place in the Round of 16 and the Indian side will aim to do better despite being drawn in a group that also includes two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal SFC and Navbahor of Uzbekistan.
Mumbai City will not be lacking match sharpness as they will head into the tie at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex having reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Durand Cup.
Awaiting them will be Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran FC, who will be making their AFC Champions League debut.
Nassaji qualified for the AFC Champions League 2023/24 after lifting the Hazfi Cup last season but their form in the Iran Pro League has been inconsistent, having won just one of their opening four matches.