A clash of the titans

A quarter of the 16 previous editions of the AFC Champions League have been won by either Urawa Red Diamonds or Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the continental giants will go head-to-head in a mouthwatering match in Group G at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday.

Hosts Urawa won the 2017 edition of the competition and the K League 1 side lifted the trophy in 2016, while the last time Jeonbuk visited Urawa, in 2013, they claimed a 3-1 victory in which the AFC Champions League’s all-time top scorer Lee Dong-gook was among the goals.

In Urawa’s maiden appearance, in 2007, they defeated the then defending champions Jeonbuk – who also finished as runners-up in 2011 – in the quarter-finals en route to winning the competition at the first time of asking.

The Japanese side currently sit a point ahead of Tuesday’s opponents and victory would leave them in a strong position at the midway point of the group stage, although should Jeonbuk take all three points they will go into the return meeting in two weeks’ time in Jeonju with qualification well within their grasp. 

Duo look to maintain 100 percent records

After just two rounds of fixtures in the 2019 AFC Champions League, only two teams still boast 100 percent records, with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal leading the way in Group C and, perhaps surprisingly, Korea Republic’s Daegu FC doing likewise in Group F.

Al Hilal endured a poor campaign in 2018 as they exited at the group stage but the 2017 runners-up look a formidable outfit once more, boasting a side replete with Saudi internationals and foreign talent such as Bafetimbi Gomis and Sebastian Giovinco. At the early stages, they look good for another tilt at the title. 

Daegu have been one of the stories of the competition so far, with Brazilian duo Edgar Silva and Cesinha outstanding in wins over Melbourne Victory and Guangzhou Evergrande. Little may have been known about the tournament debutants before the campaign, but they have already proved a welcome addition to the competition.

Wins over Al Ain and Al Duhail have put Al Hilal three points clear after two games and a third successive victory would see them with one foot in the quarter-finals. Daegu are in a similar position in their group ahead of a trip to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima and should they continue their good run, it would be hard to back against them reaching the knockout rounds at the first attempt. 

Al Nassr’s contrasting form

Al Nassr’s stunning 3-2 victory over Al Hilal at the end of March saw the Saudi side leapfrog their Riyadh rivals at the top of the Saudi Pro League and a resounding 5-0 win over Al Raed at the end of last week ensured they maintained their one-point lead at the summit.

Domestically, they have won their past eight league games and now only Al Hilal stand in the way of them claiming their eighth domestic championship and first since 2015. Their incredible form in the Saudi Pro League, though, is in striking contrast to that on the continent.

Making their first appearance in the competition since 2016, Al Nassr lost their opening game 1-0 to the United Arab Emirates’ Al Wasl, before Zobahan scored an injury-time winner to claim a 3-2 victory and leave the Saudi club in a perilous position at the foot of the Group A standings.

On Monday, they will play their first game in front of home support when Iraq’s Al Zawraa visit Riyadh. Four points adrift of the table-toppers, Al Nassr desperately need to get points on the board. Coach Rui Vitoria’s task is now to inspire his side to replicate their domestic form in the AFC Champions League.

Shanghai’s woes in Australia

It’s fair to say that since their AFC Champions League debut in 2016, Shanghai SIPG’s home form has been the reason behind their runs to the latter stages of the tournament; indeed, in 16 matches in front of their own fans, they have yet to taste defeat.

In contrast, they have tended to struggle on the road and the 1-0 loss to Ulsan Hyundai on Matchday Two means they have lost 11 of their 16 away games since their tournament debut. With an away date at Sydney FC on Wednesday, they now need to reverse a miserable run in Australia.

In 2016, Shanghai lost their first-ever game in the competition 2-1 away at Melbourne Victory, before Western Sydney Wanderers and, again, Melbourne claimed wins in the 2017 and 2018 group stages to mean the Chinese side have lost three from three in Australia.

In fairness to Shanghai, the latter two losses proved inconsequential as qualification to the last 16 had already been secured, but Wednesday’s game is vital and defeat could leave them bottom of the Group H standings. Vitor Pereira’s side will consider themselves title contenders, but they will surely need to address away results, starting in Sydney. 

Must-win game for Persepolis

After reaching the semi-finals in 2017 and then finishing as runners-up last year, Persepolis went into the current edition regarded as one of the strongest teams on the continent and with high aspirations of again challenging for the title.

But, placed in a strong Group D, their campaign has not gone to plan so far, with a 1-1 opening-day draw at home to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor potentially proving costly, before Al Sadd scored deep into stoppage-time to secure a 1-0 victory on Matchday Two and leave the Iranian giants propping up the standings.

Home form has been key in Persepolis’s good runs in recent years, but with two games against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates and a trip to Uzbekistan, they will not play in Tehran again until the final group game – by which time it could be too late.

Tuesday’s game against Al Ahli – who they ousted in the 2017 quarter-finals – could well go a long way towards sealing Branko Ivankovic’s side’s fate. Win and Persepolis will be right back in contention, but lose and they risk being cut adrift at the foot of the group.