Rarely in AFC Champions League history has the difference in form been so stark as the Filipino side are fresh from a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Daegu FC on Tuesday, while Kawasaki inflicted a defeat of the same margin – a club record – on Beijing FC.

The Japanese outfit are unbeaten in any competition in 2021 and are likely to call upon some of their star names, including Kaoru Mitoma, after they were rested last time out.

Both sides come into this game on the back of ever contrasting fortunes: Daegu FC put seven unanswered goals past United City FC, while Beijing FC shipped as many against Kawasaki Frontale, offering little in the way of competition. 

Daegu FC sit in second place with three points collected from two games, while Beijing FC’s young side have managed to pick up a point in their opening fixture against United City FC, yet sit joint bottom with the latter on points and goal difference. The two sides have never faced each other before in AFC competitions.

Ulsan are comfortably perched at the top of Group F with six points after beating Vietnam's Viettel FC and BG Pathum United, while Kaya go into the match still in search of their opening points in their debut campaign.

The opening goal came just six minutes in, when the Korea Republic side pressed the Tampines Rovers midfield into losing the ball, resulting in some brilliant link up play between Gustavo and Modou Barrow, with the Gambian striker tapping in from close range to give his side the lead.

Gustavo turned from creator to scorer with 14 minutes on the clock, when Ryu Jae-moon launched a defence splitting pass that reached Gustavo, who was waiting on the shoulder of the last defender, striking beautifully under challenge to double the score.

Nagoya turned on the power in the second half to cruise to victory, which assures them of a top two finish, with fixtures against Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia and Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers to come while Ratchaburi suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.

Pohang, who defeated the Malaysian side 4-1 on Matchday Three, turned on the power in the first half to take a 2-0 lead before completing the victory which took them to nine points from four matches. The defeat virtually ended Johor Darul Ta'zim's hopes, leaving them on three points.

The 12 teams were drawn into two groups with Japan, the continent's top team in the FIFA World Ranking, drawn in Group B while second-ranked Islamic Republic of Iran were drawn in Group A.