QNB Stars League leaders and Qatar’s only AFC Champions League champions Al Sadd have been drawn in Group D for this year’s competition yesterday. Xavi Hernandez’s team was placed alongside familiar group mates from last year’s competition, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, and will be joined by Al Wehdat of Jordan and the playoff winner of the game between Al-Ain (UAE) and Foolad (Iran). In last year’s competition, which concluded with centralised group action from both the West and the East zones followed by the final in Qatar, the 1989 and 2011 champions Al Sadd, and Al Nassr had made it to the knockouts. Al Sadd had made it to the Round of 16 of the competition. Second in the Qatari league currently, Al Duhail took their spot in Group C, along with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, Iran’s Esteghlal and Iraq’s Al Shorta, for this year’s competition. Al Rayyan has been drawn in Group E with Iran’s Persepolis, India’s FC Goa and the winners of the playoff between Al Wahda from the UAE and Iraq’s Al Zawraa. A fourth Qatari team, Al Gharafa, has the opportunity to be placed in Group A with a playoff against AGMK of Uzbekistan. Group A comprises Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan.   Matches are scheduled to begin in April, with the knockout rounds slated to be played from mid-September. The final will be held over two legs on Nov. 21 and Nov. 27.