Kobe face Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim at Kobe Wing Stadium in the club’s first-ever appearance in the competition after Vissel won the Emperor’s Cup last year to qualify for the continental championship.

With former Barcelona stars such as Vermaelen and Andres Iniesta among their expensively assembled ranks, expectations on Kobe to make a significant impact on the tournament are high.

Yamaguchi’s successful spot-kick came after the game had ended in a 3-3 draw at the conclusion of 90 minutes and a string of missed penalties from both sides took the shoot-out deep into sudden death.

Kobe, who take on Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday, never trailed throughout the course of the game and add the Super Cup to the Emperor’s Cup title they won at the end of last season.

The star-studded club took the lead off an own goal by Kashima defender Tomoya Inukai in the 18th minute, then doubled the advantage when the ball ricocheted into the net off striker Noriaki Fujimoto 20 minutes later.

Marinos make their return to the continental championship for the first time since 2014 when they face two-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group H, which also features Sydney FC and Shanghai SIPG, on Wednesday.

They do so off the back of a penalty shootout loss in the Japan Super Cup on Saturday against fellow AFC Champions League participants Vissel Kobe after the pair shared a 3-3 draw at Saitama Stadium.

It may have taken him until his 35th year, but veteran striker Bill had arguably the most successful season of his career in 2019 when he fired Chiangrai United past the usual heavyweights in Thailand to the club's first league championship.

Top scoring for the side with 14 goals, the Brazilian and his teammates edged defending champions Buriram United by virtue of a superior head-to-head record and with it earned a debut appearance in the AFC Champions League. The significance of which Bill is only too aware.

The reigning champions are in action in Dubai, while one debutant will make their AFC Champions League group stage bow on the same day as things kick-off in full speed in the West Zone.

Al Hilal lifted the trophy in 2019 after twice having to settle for runners-up finishes as they saw off some tough challengers from a decade that had seen nine different AFC Champions League winners.

The results can be viewed HERE but let's take a look at the nominees once again ahead of a new decade of the AFC Champions League kicking off on Monday.