Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: It will be a clash of two-time Continental champions when Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds host Guangzhou Evergrande of China PR on Wednesday at Saitama Stadium 2002.
The pair of East Asian heavyweights have accounted for three of the last six AFC Champions League winners with Guangzhou lifting the coveted trophy in 2013 and 2015, while Urawa added the 2017 title to their 2007 Asian championship.
However only one can go on to November's final, and a chance to make history with a record third AFC Champions League title.
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/urawa_team_stats_sf1.html
https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/preview_semi-finals.html
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/guangzhou_team_stats_sf1.html
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/h2h_sf1_ura_gze.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Fabio Cannavaro has urged his Guangzhou Evergrande side to maintain the level of performances that have seen them secure their berth in the semi-finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League, despite concerns over his team’s recent lack of goals.
Guangzhou take on Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday in the first leg of their last four clash with Cannavaro’s side in the midst of a minor slump as the two-time champions go into the meeting without a win in their last five games in all competitions.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Tsuyoshi Otsuki will send his Urawa Red Diamonds team out to play the long game as the two-time champions take on Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande in the first leg of the clubs’ 2019 AFC Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Having seen his side overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit in the second leg of their Round of 16 meeting with Ulsan Hyundai in Korea Republic in June, Otsuki is focusing on the aggregate result rather than the outcome of the game at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Paulinho has claimed that his year-long spell with FC Barcelona helped turn him into a better player, as the Brazilian midfielder prepares to spearhead Guangzhou Evergrande’s quest for an unprecedented third AFC Champions League title.
Following a disappointing period at Tottenham Hotspur, the 31-year-old resurrected his career during his first stint with Guangzhou, when he won the 2015 AFC Champions League, two Chinese Super League titles and earned a recall to the Brazilian national team.
Barcelona came calling and, during a year in Spain, Paulinho won the La Liga–Copa del Rey double before returning to Guangzhou after reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 with La Seleção.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Anderson Talisca insisted that winning the AFC Champions League is the reason he joined the two-time Continental champions as they prepare for the first leg of their semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday.
When the 24-year-old Brazilian joined then Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande on loan from Turkish side Beskitas in June 2018, his new team had already been eliminated from that year's AFC Champions League competition.
As such, the 2019 edition became the exciting attacker's first taste of Continental action and he immediately took a liking to the tournament.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds defender Tomoaki Makino believes that the 2019 AFC Champions League has seen the Saitama club raise their game to new heights, despite domestic woes, ahead of Wednesday's semi-final first leg against Guangzhou Evergrande.
Two-time Continental champions Urawa have endured an odd 2019 so far.
Torrid form in the J.League sees them hovering nervously close to the relegation zone, while they recently suffered a humiliating elimination in the Emperor's Cup against amateur side Honda FC.
Yet on the Continent, Urawa are echoing shades of their 2017-winning side. Progression from a tough Group G was followed by impressive wins over Ulsan Hyundai (Round of 16) and Shanghai SIPG (quarter-finals), both clubs that are flying high in their respective domestic leagues.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals kick off on Tuesday with teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China PR and Japan set to go head-to-head in must-watch ties.
The two-legged fixtures will kick off on Tuesday and Wednesday with the return legs three weeks later. The two winning sides will progress to the final to be played on November 11 and 24.
We look at four players – one from each of the semi-finalists – who could be key for their respective teams' chances of victory.