Sanfrecce’s first game in the competition since 2016 resulted in a disappointing 2-0 defeat against two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande last week, but they responded well by posting a 1-0 victory over Cerezo Osaka in the J.League on Saturday.

Although they have never faced Melbourne in the competition, they have hosted Australian opposition on three occasions and have recorded a victory each time, with the most recent being a 3-1 win over eventual champions Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014.

The eight sides in Groups E and F will get things underway when they return to action on Tuesday, before the remaining eight teams in Groups G and H follow suit a day later.

Sanfrecce had an early chance when Hiroya Matsumoto’s ball over the top released Douglas Vieira. The striker had a clear run on goal but took the ball too far wide and his effort from a tight angle was saved by Zeng Cheng.

Guangzhou responded by starting to dominate possession and it was no surprise when they took the lead after a fine team move in the 19th minute. Li Xuepeng’s deft pass released Yu Hanchao down the left and the winger’s cross was headed in by Anderson Talisca.

Graziano Pelle scored a brace as Shandong played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Korea Republic’s Gyeongnam FC on Matchday One and they return home for what will be their first ever match against Kashima on the Continent.

The hosts made it successive 2-2 draws at the weekend after a stalemate against Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League. When Shandong last faced Japanese opposition, meanwhile, they won home and away against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 2016 group stage.

The Malaysian champions gave a good account of themselves in their maiden match in the tournament, narrowly going down 2-1 to holders Kashima Antlers in a game that saw recent signing Diogo score his first AFC Champions League goal for the club.

Johor warmed up for the game with a 3-0 victory over PKNP in the Malaysian Super League on Saturday as they remained two points clear at the top of the standings.

A repeat of last year's semi-final, a first-ever AFC Champions League match in Iraq and some heavyweight clashes are all on the cards this week as we enter matchday two of the competition's group stage.