View source for 2011 AFC Champions League

{{Short description|30th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name   = AFC Champions League 
| year           = 2011
| image          = File:Al Sadd team, AFC Champions League 2011 3.jpg
| size           = 
| caption        = [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]] players celebrate after winning the [[2011 AFC Champions League Final|final]]
| country        =
| dates          = {{nowrap|12 February – 5 November 2011}}
| num_teams      = 36
| associations   = 13
| venues         = 
| cities         =
| champion_other = {{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
| count          = 2
| second_other   = {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
| matches        = 117
| goals          = 323
| attendance     = {{#expr: 9625 + 15000 + 8310 + 2520 + 5668 + 13421 + 3426 + 6154 + 8833 + 5786 + 2265 + 19123 + 15000 + 15000 + 12878 + 3782 + 8603 + 17654 + 7000 + 18421 + 5060 + 4034 + 2950 + 85422 + 5622 + 10787 + 6150 + 15000 + 7000 + 7873 + 31765 + 6546 + 25486 + 7600 + 1900 + 7882 + 3480 + 3509 + 5150 + 3920 + 3009 + 4652 + 5250 + 3351 + 5450 + 4000 + 607 + 4160 + 5245 + 12949 + 4825 + 26866 + 2167 + 25456 + 5693 + 11398 + 7437 + 26683 + 7939 + 1519 + 28674 + 5128 + 6103 + 7348 + 26973 + 5914 + 10927 + 2324 + 13767 + 23623 + 12178 + 892 + 3826 + 10856 + 20821 + 30000 + 5600 + 11351 + 10059 + 7892 + 4000 + 17343 + 6439 + 9035 + 7095 + 20036 + 5393 + 7007 + 7689 + 7320 + 4619 + 10215 + 11954 + 9495 + 3164 + 6730 + 5254 + 16463 + 6318 + 17150 + 11036 + 12725 + 5711 + 7140 + 15450 + 7659 + 5621 + 16790 + 16423 + 15000 + 7250 + 6026 + 9864 + 16942 + 17069 + 10800 + 41805}}
| top_scorer     = {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-gook]]<br>(9 goals)
| player         = {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-gook]]
| prevseason     = [[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
| nextseason     = [[2012 AFC Champions League|2012]]
}}

The '''2011 AFC Champions League''' was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club [[association football|football]] tournament organized by the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC), and the 9th under the current [[AFC Champions League]] title. The winners, [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]] qualified for the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]] in [[Japan]].

==Allocation of entries per association==

The [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] approved criteria for participation in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.<ref name="criteria">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |publisher=AFC |title=Criteria for Participation in AFC Club Competitions for 2011–2012 seasons |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818173523/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |archive-date=18 August 2012 }}</ref> The final decision date was set after the Executive Committee meeting in November 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/26192-12-mas-keen-to-join-acl|publisher=AFC|title=12 MAs keen to join ACL|date=30 November 2009}}</ref>

On 30 November 2009, the AFC announced 12 more MA's that were keen to join the ACL, in addition to ten participating national associations. Singapore later withdrew. The full list of candidate associations were as follows:

;East Asia
* '''Already participating:''' {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Football Federation Australia|Australia]], {{flagicon|China}} [[Football Association of the People's Republic of China|China PR]], {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Football Association of Indonesia|Indonesia]], {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan Football Association|Japan]], {{flagicon|Korea Republic}} [[Korea Football Association|Korea Republic]]
* '''Keen to participate:''' {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Football Association of Malaysia|Malaysia]], {{flagicon|Myanmar}} [[Myanmar Football Federation|Myanmar]],  {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]]
* '''Withdrew:''' {{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Football Association of Singapore|Singapore]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/30653-singapore-seek-to-pull-out-of-acl|publisher=AFC|title=Singapore seek to pull out of ACL|date=4 October 2010}}</ref>
* '''Disqualified:''' {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Vietnam Football Federation|Vietnam]]<ref name="ACL slots maintained">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31468-acl-slots-maintained |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912190924/http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31468-acl-slots-maintained |url-status = dead|archive-date=12 September 2012 |publisher=AFC |title=ACL slots maintained |date=21 November 2010 }}</ref>

;West Asia
* '''Already participating:''' {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation|Iran]], {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]], {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabia Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]], {{flagicon|UAE}} [[United Arab Emirates Football Association|UAE]], {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} [[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]]
* '''Keen to participate:''' {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]], {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan Football Association|Jordan]], {{flagicon|Oman}} [[Oman Football Association|Oman]], {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan Football Federation|Pakistan]], {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Palestinian Football Federation|Palestine]], {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} [[Tajikistan National Football Federation|Tajikistan]], {{flagicon|Yemen}} [[Yemen Football Association|Yemen]], {{flagicon|India}} [[All India Football Federation|India]]

'''Note:''' Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India have clubs taking part in play-offs to qualify for the group stages of ACL in 2010.

===Entrants per association===

The allocation for entry to the 2011 ACL stayed the same as the previous two seasons with the exception of [[Vietnam Football Federation|Vietnam]] who were disqualified and their previous playoff slot was awarded to [[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]].<ref name="ACL slots maintained"/>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+West Asia
|-
!rowspan="2"|Member<br>Association
!width=14% rowspan="2"|Clubs
!colspan="3"|Spots
|-
!width=15%|Group stage
!width=15%|Play-off
!width=14%|''[[2011 AFC Cup|AFC Cup]]''
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Saudi Arabia Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]]||14||4||0||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation|Iran]]||18||4||0||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[United Arab Emirates Football Association|UAE]]||12||3||1||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]]||12||2||1||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]]||14||2||0||2
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|IND}} [[All India Football Federation|India]]||14||0||1||1
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]]||36||0||0||3
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Jordan Football Association|Jordan]]||12||0||0||2
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|OMN}} [[Oman Football Association|Oman]]||12||0||0||2
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|YEM}} [[Yemen Football Association|Yemen]]||14||0||0||2
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Pakistan Football Federation|Pakistan]]||16||0||0||0
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|PLE}} [[Palestinian Football Federation|Palestine]]||22||0||0||0
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|TJK}} [[Tajikistan National Football Federation|Tajikistan]]||10||0||0||0
|}
{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
|-
| style="background: #90EE77;" width="20" | 
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Meet the criteria
|-
| style="background: #ccccff" width="20" | 
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Do not meet the criteria
|}

{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+East Asia
|-
!rowspan="2"|Member<br>Association
!width=14% rowspan="2"|Clubs
!colspan="3"|Spots
|-
!width=15%|Group stage
!width=15%|Play-off
!width=14%|''[[2011 AFC Cup|AFC Cup]]''
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Japan Football Association|Japan]]||18||4||0||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Korea Football Association|Korea Republic]]||<!-- AGAIN, THE ALLOCATION FOR 2011 ACL IS BASED ON 2010 K-LEAGUE SEASON WHEN ONLY 15 TEAMS WERE PLAYING -->15<sup>*</sup>||4||0||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chinese Football Association|China PR]]||16||4||0||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Football Federation Australia|Australia]]||<!-- NINE CLUBS FROM AUSTRALIA BECAUSE ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON 2009–10 SEASON. PLEASE STOP CHANGING THIS, THANKS. -->9+1<sup>**</sup>||2||0|||0
|- bgcolor=#90EE77
|align=left|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Football Association of Indonesia|Indonesia]]||18||1||1||1
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]]||18||0||1||1
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|VIE}} [[Vietnam Football Federation|Vietnam]]||14||0||0||0|2
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Football Association of Singapore|Singapore]]||12||0||0||0|1
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Football Association of Malaysia|Malaysia]]||14||0||0||0
|- bgcolor=#ccccff
|align=left|{{flagicon|MYA}} [[Myanmar Football Federation|Myanmar]]||12||0||0||0
|}
<small><sup>*</sup> One of the [[K-League]] clubs, [[Sangju Sangmu Phoenix]], is unable to qualify for the ACL because the team is not a commercial entity and their players are not professionally contracted.<ref name="ACL slots maintained"/></small>

<small><sup>**</sup> One of the [[A-League]] clubs, [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]], is based in [[New Zealand Football|New Zealand]], an [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] member country. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/29884-afc-ad-hoc-committee-for-professional-clubs|publisher=AFC|title=Ad hoc Committee for Professional Clubs|date=27 July 2010}}</ref></small>
{{col-end}}

The finalists of the [[2010 AFC Cup]] also participated in the play-off, provided that they meet the Champions League criteria.

==Teams==
The following is the list of direct entrants for the group stage confirmed by the AFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/news/31593-acl-afcc-2010-teams|publisher=AFC|title=ACL, AFCC 2010 teams|date=29 November 2010}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=4|Group stage direct entrants: West Asia (Groups A–D)
|-
!Team
!Qualifying method
!App*
!Last App
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Sepahan Esfahan FC|Sepahan]]
|[[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup]] champions
|7th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|[[2009–10 Hazfi Cup]] winners
|3rd
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Zob Ahan Isfahan FC|Zob Ahan]]
|[[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup]] runners-up
|3rd
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]]
|[[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup]] 3rd place
|4th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
|[[2009–10 Saudi Professional League]] champions
|7th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Ittihad FC|Al-Ittihad Jeddah]]
|[[2009–10 Saudi Professional League]] runners-up<br/> [[2010 King Cup of Champions]] winners
|7th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
|[[2009–10 Saudi Professional League]] 3rd place
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Shabab Riyadh|Al-Shabab]]
|[[2009–10 Saudi Professional League]] 4th place
|6th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi)|Al-Wahda]]
|[[2009–10 UAE Premier League]] champions
|6th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Emirates Club|Emirates]]
|[[2009–10 UAE President's Cup]] winners
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
|[[2009–10 UAE Premier League]] runners-up
|3rd
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club|Al-Gharafa]]
|[[2009–10 Qatar Stars League]] champions
|6th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Rayyan Sports Club|Al-Rayyan]]
|[[2010 Emir of Qatar Cup]] winners
|3rd
|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]
|-
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[FC Bunyodkor|Bunyodkor]]
|[[2010 Uzbek League]] champions<br/> [[2010 Uzbekistan Cup]] winners
|4th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [[FC Pakhtakor Tashkent|Pakhtakor]]
|[[2010 Uzbek League]] runners-up
|9th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|}

{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=4|Group stage direct entrants: East Asia (Groups E–H)
|-
!Team
!Qualifying method
!App*
!Last App
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Nagoya Grampus]]
|[[2010 J. League Division 1]] champions
|2nd
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]]
|[[2010 Emperor's Cup]] winners
|5th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Gamba Osaka]]
|[[2010 J. League Division 1]] runners-up
|5th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Cerezo Osaka]]
|[[2010 J. League Division 1]] 3rd place
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C.|Shandong Luneng Taishan]]
|[[2010 Chinese Super League]] champions
|5th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin Teda F.C.|Tianjin Teda]]
|[[2010 Chinese Super League]] runners-up
|2nd
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai Shenhua F.C.|Shanghai Shenhua]]
|[[2010 Chinese Super League]] 3rd place
|6th
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Hangzhou Greentown F.C.|Hangzhou Greentown]]
|[[2010 Chinese Super League]] 4th place
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[FC Seoul]]
|[[2010 K-League]] champions
|2nd
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|[[2010 Korean FA Cup]] winners
|4th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeju United FC|Jeju United]]
|[[2010 K-League]] runners-up
|1st
|none
|-
|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|[[2010 K-League]] 3rd place
|5th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sydney FC]]
|[[2009–10 A-League#Regular season|2009–10 A-League]] premiers<br>[[2010 A-League Grand Final]] winners
|2nd
|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2009–10 A-League#Regular season|2009–10 A-League]] regular season runners-up
|3rd
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Arema FC|Arema]]
|[[2009–10 Indonesia Super League]] champions
|2nd
|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]
|}
{{col-end}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Number of appearances (including qualifying rounds) since the 2002/03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League

The following is the list of participants for the playoff stage confirmed by the AFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31494-afc-competitions-committee-meeting|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Competitions Committee|date=23 November 2010}}</ref> The committee further proposed that one team be shifted by the means of a draw from the West to the East for sake of balance.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=4|Qualifying play-off participants: West Asia
|-
!Team
!Qualifying method
!App*
!Last App
|-
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Dempo SC|Dempo]]
|[[2009–10 I-League]] champions
|2nd
|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]
|-
|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Ain FC|Al-Ain]]
|[[2009–10 UAE Premier League]] 3rd place
|7th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|SYR|1980}} [[Al-Ittihad Aleppo|Al-Ittihad]]
|[[2010 AFC Cup]] winners
|5th
|[[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]]
|-
|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]
|[[2009–10 Qatar Stars League]] runners-up
|8th
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|}

{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=4|Qualifying play-off participants: East Asia
|-
!Team
!Qualifying method
!App*
!Last App
|-
|{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Sriwijaya F.C.|Sriwijaya]]
|[[2010 Piala Indonesia]] winners
|3rd
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|-
|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Muangthong United F.C.|Muangthong United]]
|[[2010 Thai Premier League]] champions
|2nd
|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]
|}
{{col-end}}

==Schedule==
Schedule of dates for 2011 competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/2010/compcalendar2011.pdf |publisher=AFC |title=AFC Calendar of Competitions 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705033656/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/2010/compcalendar2011.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2010 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-align="center"
!Phase
!Round
!Draw date
!First leg
!Second leg
|-align="center"
|rowspan=2|Qualifying play-offs
|Semi-finals
|rowspan=9|7 December 2010
|colspan=2|12–13 February 2011
|-align="center"
|Finals
|colspan=2|19 February 2011
|-align="center"
|rowspan=6|Group stage
|Matchday 1
|colspan=2|1–2 March 2011
|-align="center"
|Matchday 2
|colspan=2|15–16 March 2011
|-align="center"
|Matchday 3
|colspan=2|5–6 April 2011
|-align="center"
|Matchday 4
|colspan=2|19–20 April 2011
|-align="center"
|Matchday 5
|colspan=2|3–4 May 2011
|-align="center"
|Matchday 6
|colspan=2|10–11 May 2011
|-align="center"
|rowspan=4|Knockout phase
|Round of 16
|colspan=2|24–25 May 2011
|-align="center"
|Quarter-finals
|rowspan=3|7 June 2011
|14 September 2011
|27–28 September 2011
|-align="center"
|Semi-finals
|19 October 2011
|26 October 2011
|-align="center"
|Final
|colspan=2|4 or 5 November 2011
|}

==Qualifying play-off==
{{main|2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off}}

The draw for the qualifying play-off was held in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]] on 7 December 2010.<ref name="draw">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/31689-stage-set-for-acl-afc-cup-draws|publisher=AFC|title=Stage set for ACL, AFC Cup draws|date=6 December 2010}}</ref> In order to create balance another draw was held, moving one of the teams ([[Al-Ain FC|Al-Ain]]) from the West into the East side of the play-offs.<ref name="draw mechanics">{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/2011/acl2011_draw_mechanics.pdf|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Champions League 2011 Draw Mechanism for Play-off Stage & Preliminary Stage (Group & Round of 16)|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214051413/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/2011/acl2011_draw_mechanics.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The two winners from the qualifying play-off (one from West Asia and one from East Asia) advanced to the [[#Group stage|group stage]]. All losers from the qualifying play-off entered the [[2011 AFC Cup#Group stage|2011 AFC Cup group stage]].<ref name="regulations">{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/regs/ACL_2011_Competitions_Regulations.pdf|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Champions League 2011 Competitions Regulations|access-date=7 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214051422/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/regs/ACL_2011_Competitions_Regulations.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===West Asia===
{{OneLegStart}}
!colspan="3"|Semi-final
{{OneLegResult|'''[[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]'''|QAT|[[2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off#Al-Sadd v Al-Ittihad|5–1]]|[[Al-Ittihad Aleppo|Al-Ittihad]]|SYR|var2=1980}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Final
{{OneLegResult|'''[[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]'''|QAT|[[2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off#Al-Sadd v Dempo|2–0]]|[[Dempo SC|Dempo]]|IND}}
|}

===East Asia===
{{OneLegStart}}
!colspan="3"|Semi-final
{{OneLegResult|'''[[Sriwijaya F.C.|Sriwijaya]]'''|IDN|[[2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off#Sriwijaya v Muangthong United|2–2]]<br>([[extra time (association football)|aet]])(7–6[[penalty shootout (association football)|p]])|[[Muangthong United F.C.|Muangthong United]]|THA}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Final
{{OneLegResult|[[Sriwijaya F.C.|Sriwijaya]]|IDN|[[2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off#Sriwijaya v Al-Ain|0–4]]|'''[[Al-Ain FC|Al-Ain]]'''|UAE}}
|}

==Group stage==
{{main|2011 AFC Champions League group stage}}

The draw for the group stage was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.<ref name="draw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/31705-mouth-watering-matches-on-the-acl-agenda|publisher=AFC|title=Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda|date=7 December 2010}}</ref> Clubs from the same country may not be drawn into the same group.<ref name="draw mechanics"/> The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the [[#Knockout stage|knockout stage]].<ref name="regulations"/>

===Group A===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group A}}
===Group B===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group B}}
===Group C===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group C}}
===Group D===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group D}}
===Group E===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group E}}
===Group F===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group F}}
===Group G===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group G}}
===Group H===
{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group H}}

==Knockout stage==
{{main|2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage}}

===Bracket===
{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Bracket}}

===Round of 16===
Based on the results from the group stage, the matchups of the round of 16 were decided as below.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/34878-acl-juicy-encounters-in-offing|publisher=AFC|title=ACL: Juicy encounters in offing|date=12 May 2011}}</ref> Each tie was played as one match, hosted by the winners of each group (''Team 1'') against the runners-up of another group (''Team 2'').<ref name="draw mechanics"/>
{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Round of 16}}

===Quarter-finals===
The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/afc-champions-league-2011/35200-acl-draw-story|publisher=AFC|title=Korea challenge for former champions|date=7 June 2011}}</ref> In this draw, the "country protection" rule was applied: if there are exactly two clubs from the same country, they may not face each other in the quarter-finals; however, if there are more than two clubs from the same country, they may face each other in the quarter-finals.
{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Quarter-finals}}

===Semi-finals===
{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Semi-finals}}

===Final===
{{main|2011 AFC Champions League Final}}

The final of the 2011 AFC Champions League was hosted by one of the finalists, decided by draw.<ref name="regulations"/> This format was a change from the 2009 and 2010 editions, where the final was played at a neutral venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/29922-afc-competitions-committee-decisions|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Competitions Committee decisions|date=31 July 2010}}</ref>

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Final}}

==Awards==
The following awards were given for the 2011 AFC Champions League:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/37034-acl-final-awards |title=Double delight for Lee  |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=5 November 2011 |access-date=5 November 2011 }}</ref>
*'''Most Valuable Player Award''': {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-Gook]] ([[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]])
*'''Top Scorer''': {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
*'''Fair Play Award''': {{flagicon|KOR}} Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

==Top scorers==
Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" width=800
! Rank
! Player
! Club
! {{Tooltip| MD1 | Group stage Matchday 1}}
! {{Tooltip| MD2 | Group stage Matchday 2}}
! {{Tooltip| MD3 | Group stage Matchday 3}}
! {{Tooltip| MD4 | Group stage Matchday 4}}
! {{Tooltip| MD5 | Group stage Matchday 5}}
! {{Tooltip| MD6 | Group stage Matchday 6}}
! {{Tooltip| R16 | Round of 16}}
! {{Tooltip| QF1 | Quarter-finals First Leg}}
! {{Tooltip| QF2 | Quarter-finals Second Leg}}
! {{Tooltip| SF1 | Semi-finals First Leg}}
! {{Tooltip| SF2 | Semi-finals Second Leg}}
! {{0}}{{Tooltip| F | Final}}{{0}}
! Total
|-
!rowspan=1| 1
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-Gook]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|  ||  ||  || 1 || 2 || ||  || 2 || 4 || || || 
! 9
|-
!rowspan=1| 2
|align="left"| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Eninho]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]
|  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || 2 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || 1
! 7
|-
!rowspan=1| 3
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ha Tae-Gyun]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|  || 3 ||  ||  || 1 || 2 ||  || || || || || 
! 6
|-
!rowspan=4| 4
|align="left"| {{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Bader Al-Mutawa]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
| 1 ||  ||  ||  || 2 || 1 || 1 || || || || || 
! 5
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Farhad Majidi]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]]
| 1 ||  || 1 ||  || 2 || 1 || || || || || || 
! 5
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|MNE}} [[Dejan Damjanović]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[FC Seoul]]
| 1 || 1 ||  ||  || 2 ||  || 1 || || || || || 
! 5
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|SEN}} [[Ibrahima Touré]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Sepahan]]
| 1 || 1 ||  ||  ||  || 2 || 1 || || || || || 
! 5
|-
!rowspan=8| 8
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KSA}} [[Yasser Al-Qahtani]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
|  ||  || 1 || 2 ||  || 1 ||  || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ALG}} [[Abdelmalek Ziaya]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KSA}} [[Ittihad FC|Al-Ittihad]]
| 2 ||  || 1 ||  ||  ||  || 1 || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroshi Kiyotake]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Cerezo Osaka]]
|  ||  ||  ||  || 1 || 1 ||  || 2 || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takashi Inui]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Cerezo Osaka]]
|  ||  || 1 ||  || 2 || 1 ||  || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Rodrigo Pimpão]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Cerezo Osaka]]
| 2 ||  ||  ||  || 1 || 1 ||  || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yeom Ki-Hun]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
|  ||  || 1 || 1 || 1 ||  || 1 || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Igor José Marigo de Castro|Igor Castro]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRI}} [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]
| 1 ||  || 1 ||  ||  ||  || 2 || || || || || 
! 4
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRI}} [[Mohammad Ghazi (footballer)|Mohammad Ghazi]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|IRI}} [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]
|  ||  ||  ||  || 1 ||  || 1 || 1 || 1 || || || 
! 4
|}

==See also==
*[[2011 AFC Cup]]
*[[2011 AFC President's Cup]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090626072927/http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league AFC Champions League Official Website]

{{AFC Club Football seasons|group=championsleague}}
{{2011 in Asian Football (AFC)}}
{{2011 in Japanese football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Afc Champions League 2011}}
[[Category:2011 AFC Champions League| ]]
[[Category:2011 in AFC football|1]]
[[Category:2010–11 in Asian men's football|1]]
[[Category:2011–12 in Asian men's football|1]]