Koroki scored three times during the group phase as Urawa emerged from Group G in second place behind Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to secure their spot in the knockout phase for the fifth time in the club’s history.

But it was his brace in the second leg of the Round of 16 win over Ulsan Hyundai in June that was of vital importance to his team as those goals spurred Urawa to a 3-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory overall to send the J.League side into the quarter-finals.

Pereira guided Shanghai to the Chinese title last year as the club claimed their first-ever trophy before the Chinese Super Cup was added to their haul at the start of the current campaign with victory over Beijing Guoan.

But, with their quarter-final against Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League looming, the former FC Porto coach is determined to secure another major trophy this season as he aims to create a winning habit at the Shanghai club.

Al Ittihad defeated Al Ahed 3-0 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, setting them up nicely for the kick-off of their 2019-20 Saudi Pro League campaign and 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

Al Ittihad open their domestic season with a home tie against Al Raed on Friday and then play domestic rivals Al Hilal SFC in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Tianhe Stadium will be the venue for the duo’s first meeting on Asian soil on August 28 in the first leg of their last eight clash in the Continental club championship, and comes a little more than seven years since their first – and so far only – meeting on the pitch.

That was at Sao Paulo’s Estadio do Pacaembu, when Paulinho’s Corinthians shared a 1-1 draw with a Portuguesa side featuring Leo Silva and the Kashima star is relishing the prospect of renewing his rivalry with the former Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

The Xavi-led reigning QSL champions are already in competition mode after their triumph over local rivals Al Duhail in the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 and Sheikh Jassim Cup and looking to continue their fine start.

The 4-2 Round of 16 aggregate win over Al Duhail was followed by a 1-0 triumph in Saturday's Sheikh Jassim Cup and midfielder Ali Asad said their good early season form is a confidence booster for Al Sadd.

The Austria international signed for SIPG from Premier League side West Ham United in July and has had an immediate impact, scoring four times in six league games.

But his arrival – which saw Brazilian striker Elkeson return to Guangzhou Evergrande – has given Yu and his teammates a confidence and quality boost ahead of their AFC Champions League quarter-final meeting with the Japanese side.

Urawa, who won last season’s Japan's Emperor’s Cup to qualify for the 2019 AFC Champions League, face Vitor Pereira’s side in the first leg of their last eight clash in Shanghai on August 27 knowing the last 18 months have been a difficult period for the two-time champions.

In the season-and-a-half since Urawa captured their second AFC Champions League – which came a decade after their first – the club has experienced significant upheaval.