The 2021 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 14 to 30 April 2021 for the West Region and from 22 June to 11 July 2021 for the East Region. [1] A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League. [2]
The draw for the group stage was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 27 January 2021. [3] The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four: five groups each in the West Region (Groups A–E) and the East Region (Groups F–J). For each zone, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association, in consideration of technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. [4]
The following 40 teams entered into the group stage draw, which included the 32 direct entrants and the eight winners of the play-off round of the qualifying play-offs, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.
Region | Groups | Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Region | A–E | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() (Winners of Play-off West 1) | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() (Winners of Play-off West 2) | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() (Winners of Play-off West 3) | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() (Winners of Play-off West 4) | ||
East Region | F–J | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() (Winners of Play-off East 1) | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
In the group stage, each group was played on a double round-robin basis in centralised venues. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3): [2]
The schedule of each matchday was as follows. [1] [10]
Matchday | Dates | Matches | |
---|---|---|---|
West Region | East Region | ||
Matchday 1 | 14–15 April 2021 | 22, 24–26 June 2021 | Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 2 |
Matchday 2 | 17–18 April 2021 | 25, 27–29 June 2021 | Team 4 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 1 |
Matchday 3 | 20–21 April 2021 | 28, 30 June – 2 July 2021 | Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 3 |
Matchday 4 | 23–24 April 2021 | 1, 3–5 July 2021 | Team 2 vs. Team 4, Team 3 vs. Team 1 |
Matchday 5 | 26–27 April 2021 | 4, 6–8 July 2021 | Team 4 vs. Team 1, Team 2 vs. Team 3 |
Matchday 6 | 29–30 April 2021 | 7, 9–11 July 2021 | Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4 |
On 11 March 2021, AFC confirmed Thailand as the hosts for the group stage, except for Group H and I. [11] On 10 May 2021, AFC confirmed Uzbekistan as the hosts for Group H and I. [12]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | IST | HIL | SAH | AGK | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 [lower-alpha 1] | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 10 [lower-alpha 1] | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 [lower-alpha 2] | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 7 [lower-alpha 2] | 2–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — |
Al-Hilal ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report |
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AGMK ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
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Polvonov ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
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Al-Hilal ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
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| Live Report Stats Report | Hanonov ![]() |
Istiklol ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() |
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| Live Report Stats Report | Gomis ![]() |
Shabab Al-Ahli ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
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| Live Report Stats Report | Gadoyev ![]() |
AGMK ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
Istiklol ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() |
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Soirov ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SHA | TRA | PAK | QWJ | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 10 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — |
Pakhtakor ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() |
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| Live Report Stats Report |
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Sharjah ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Pakhtakor ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
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Derdiyok ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Khalfan ![]() |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
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| Live Report Stats Report |
Sharjah ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Abbaszadeh ![]() |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | EST | DUH | AHL | SHO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 9 | 4–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | — |
Esteghlal ![]() | 5–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report | Al Somah ![]() |
Al-Ahli ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
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Al Somah ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Olunga ![]() |
Al-Ahli ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Esteghlal ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Olunga ![]() |
Al-Shorta ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Olunga ![]() |
Al-Duhail ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
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Olunga ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Asiri ![]() |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAS | SAD | WEH | FOO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 7 | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — |
Al-Sadd ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Abdurisag ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Chimba ![]() |
Al-Nassr ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | Cazorla ![]() |
Foolad ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
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Chimba ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Al-Sadd ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Samir ![]() |
Foolad ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Al-Amri ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Petros ![]() |
Al-Nassr ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() |
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Hamdallah ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Foolad ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report | Nam Tae-hee ![]() |
Al-Wehdat ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Saad ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Al-Sadd ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Cazorla ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PER | WAH | GOA | RAY | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 15 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 13 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | 3–2 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |
Al-Rayyan ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Al-Hadhrami ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
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Al-Wahda ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Persepolis ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Bedia ![]() |
Al-Rayyan ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
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Live Report Stats Report | Kharbin ![]() |
Goa ![]() | 0–4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
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Al-Rayyan ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Ferydoon ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Ortiz ![]() |
Persepolis ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
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Goa ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
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Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ULS | PAT | VIE | KAY | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 18 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 6 | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 16 | −14 | 0 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–5 | — |
Viettel ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report | Hinterseer ![]() |
Ulsan Hyundai ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Kaya–Iloilo ![]() | 0–5 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
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Kaya–Iloilo ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
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Ulsan Hyundai ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Yoon Bit-garam ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Bedic ![]() |
Ulsan Hyundai ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Viettel ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Caíque ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAG | POH | JOH | RAT | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 16 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 2–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 4 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 2 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — |
Johor Darul Ta'zim ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report | Abe ![]() |
Pohang Steelers ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | Velázquez ![]() |
Pohang Steelers ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Tashchy ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Maeda ![]() |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JEO | GAM | CHI | TAM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 5 | +17 | 16 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 | 9–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 9 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 8–1 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 8 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 27 | −26 | 0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–3 | — |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | Ekanit ![]() |
Gamba Osaka ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Patric ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
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Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ![]() | 9–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Chiangrai United ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Bill ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Pereira ![]() |
Tampines Rovers ![]() | 0–4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
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Gamba Osaka ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Brinner ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Felipe Amorim ![]() |
Gamba Osaka ![]() | 8–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | Bennett ![]() |
Chiangrai United ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Bill ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
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Tampines Rovers ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KAW | DAE | UNI | BJG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | +24 | 18 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–2 | 8–0 | 4–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 12 | 1–3 | — | 7–0 | 5–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 24 | −20 | 4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 23 | −20 | 1 | 0–7 | 0–3 | 2–3 | — |
United City ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Schröck ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Liang Shaowen ![]() |
Kawasaki Frontale ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
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Daegu FC ![]() | 7–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Kawasaki Frontale ![]() | 8–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Daegu FC ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Beijing Guoan ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
Beijing Guoan ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Daegu FC ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Edgar ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Leandro Damião ![]() |
United City ![]() | 0–4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CER | KIT | POR | GZH | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 14 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | |
2 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | ||
3 | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 8 | 0–3 | 1–1 | — | 3–0 | ||
4 | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 17 | −16 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–5 | — |
Kitchee ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
Cerezo Osaka ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Sakamoto ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Pakorn ![]() |
Guangzhou ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Live Report Stats Report | Damjanović ![]() |
Kitchee ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Damjanović ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Port ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Pakorn ![]() | Live Report Stats Report | Orr ![]() |
Guangzhou ![]() | 1–5 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Thitawee ![]() | Live Report Stats Report |
Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | E | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 13 | Advance to Round of 16 |
2 | B | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 10 | |
3 | A | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 10 | |
4 | D | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | |
5 | C | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 9 |
Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | I | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 |
2 | F | ![]() | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | |
3 | G | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | |
4 | J | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 | |
5 | H | ![]() | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 9 |
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