The clash at Kashima Soccer Stadium paired the two sides against Japanese opposition for the first time ever in the Continental competition and it was Sanfrecce who went into the game as the form team having won five in a row in the group stage.

But in a closely contested match it was defending champions Kashima who gained the upper hand after Brazilian Serginho scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half following excellent work from Doi.

Serginho proved to be the lone goalscorer of the match with a first-half header for the defending champions. This was the first all-Japanese tie in the Round of 16 since 2011 and the 17th overall between clubs from Japan in the history of the AFC Champions League.

Both sides were coming off inspiring 2-0 home wins in domestic competition at the weekend as the title holders and Hiroshima clashed for the first time in Asia’s flagship club tournament.

Wei Shihao put two-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande in front 10 minutes before halftime but a stunning strike from Zhang Chi midway through the second period earned Shandong an away goal ahead of next week’s clash in Jinan.

But Yang’s effort in the 80th minute which took a deflection off Shandong defender Zheng Zheng means Guangzhou are 90 minutes away from booking their place in the last eight of the competition for the sixth time in eight seasons.

The J.League giants have tasted just one defeat in the last 14 AFC Champions League fixtures on home soil and it is this impressive record that helped Urawa to the 2017 Continental title.

And Muto knows that a win on Wednesday over Ulsan would be a big step for the club towards making a fourth appearance in the quarter-finals.

Shanghai SIPG's maiden appearance in the AFC Champions League three years ago was ended in comprehensive fashion when they came up against eventual winners Jeonbuk in the last eight.

After a goalless draw at Shanghai Stadium, the K-League side turned on the style to defeat their Chinese Super League visitors 5-0 in Jeonju to sail into the semi-finals.

Both Urawa, who debuted at the 2007 edition, and Ulsan, who first appeared at the 2006 competition, have a rich history in the Continent's premier club competition, and both know what it takes to lift the AFC Champions League title.

So it may come as some surprise that their Round of 16 meeting will in fact be their first time facing off against each other at this level.

Urawa, winners of the 2007 crown, were unable to defend their 2017 title, after failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament, but have come back strongly in 2019 and are taking part in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League for the fifth time in their history,

The clash – which pits together the league champions of China and Korea Republic – gives Shanghai the chance to avenge the 5-0 loss they suffered at the hands of eventual champions Jeonbuk on what was their debut campaign three years ago.

Oscar netted a hat-trick as Vitor Pereira’s team recorded their own 5-0 victory over another Korean side, Ulsan Hyundai, on Matchday Six to seal the runners-up spot in Group H and advance to the knockout rounds for the fourth successive season.

Jeonbuk, meanwhile, secured their safe passage to the last 16 with a game to spare after a pair of wins over both Urawa Red Diamonds and Beijing FC ensured they finished on top of Group G.