AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25

As the race to reach the knockout stage intensifies, the-AFC.com summarises five key takeaways from the latest round of matches.

Humbled 7-3 by Gwangju FC in their opening match, Hutchinson had challenged his players to take responsibility for their performance and they responded with an emphatic 4-0 win against Ulsan.

Having opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Thailand's Buriram United, Yoshida said it was imperative that Vissel Kobe did not drop points at home.

Gotoku Sakai’s second half winner separated the two sides with Vissel earning their first win to move onto four points while Shandong are one adrift.

John Hutchison’s J1 League side suffered a 7-3 defeat against Gwangju FC in their opening game of the continental championship but made amends with a well-earned victory in a re-run of last season’s AFC Champions League™ semi-final.

Kota Watanabe put the home side in front in the fourth minute and Takuma Nishimura added the second a minute before the interval while Anderson Lopes hit a late third and Kota Mizunuma scored a fourth to give Marinos their first three points of the campaign.

Ulsan, meanwhile, remain without a point having also lost their opening game against Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in last month’s first matchday of the league phase.

Back to back wins have placed Al Hilal at the top of the West League Stage standings, ahead of domestic rivals Al Ahli Saudi FC on goal difference.