A-League champions Sydney FC will have to climb the tallest mountain if it wants to be crowned kings of Asia this season.

The Sky Blues were grouped with two-time champions Jeonbuk Motors in Group H alongside former winners Gamba Osaka from Japan and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, in Wednesday’s draw.

It is a group of death with the top two progressing, along with the three best finishing third-placed teams from all the groups, giving Sky Blues coach Steve Corica plenty to think about.

Brisbane Roar, which will playoff with Kaya-Iloilo of the Philippines and Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan, also faces a tough test should it advance to the group stage.

🚨 #ACL2021 group stage draw results🚨

The toughest group is _______ pic.twitter.com/iCUxI4AbRA

— #ACL (@TheAFCCL) January 27, 2021

Roar will come face to face with defending champions South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, which beat Iran’s Persepolis in the final of last year’s competition to win the title for the second time.

Thailand’s BG Pathum United and fellow newcomers Viettel from Vietnam in Group F also await.

Forty teams will participate in the group phase of the competition – an increase from 32 last year – with the winners of each group plus the three best runners-up from the west and east regions advancing to the last 16.

Two-time champions Guangzhou FC, formerly known as Guangzhou Evergrande, takes on Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale in Group I as well as tournament newcomers United City from the Philippines.

The group will be completed by the winners of the playoff between South Korea’s Daegu FC and Chiangrai United from Thailand.

A-MA-ZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When 🇮🇷 Persepolis' Mahdi Torabi did this at #ACL2019! pic.twitter.com/c86Mt2y9BJ

— #ACL (@TheAFCCL) January 26, 2021

In the western half of the draw, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, who won the title in 2019, will meet Shabab Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates as well as debutants FC Istiklol from Tajikistan and either Qatar’s Al Gharafah or AGMK from Uzbekistan.

Persepolis, which has been runners-up twice in the past three seasons, headlines Group E, where it will meet Qatar’s Al Rayyan, FC Goa from India and the winners of the playoff between Al Wahda from the UAE and Iraq’s Al Zawraa.

The group phase of the competition is due to be played on a centralised basis due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with member associations asked by the Asian Football Confederation to submit bids to host the competitions in their respective regions.

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 November 21 and November 27.

🔵⚫️ Team goals: 💯#ACL | #GoalOfTheDay | 🇯🇵 Gamba Osaka pic.twitter.com/XV85SeLwUe

— #ACL (@TheAFCCL) January 26, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League draw

Group A: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), FC Istiklol (Tajikistan), playoff winner

Group B: Sharjah (UAE), Tractor FC (Iran), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), playoff winner

Group C: Al Duhail (Qatar), Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia), Esteghlal (Iran), Al Shorta (Iraq)

Group D: Al Sadd (Qatar), Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Al Wehdat (Jordan), playoff winner

Group E: Persepolis (Iran), Al Rayyan (Qatar), FC Goa (India), playoff winner

Group F: BG Pathum United (Thailand), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), Viettel (Vietnam), playoff winner

Group G: Jiangsu FC (China), Nagoya Grampus (Japan), Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia), playoff winner

Group H: Jeonbuk Motors (South Korea), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Tampines Rovers (Singapore), Sydney FC (Australia).