AFC Champions League preview: Japanese duo seek to maintain continental form
Japanese sides Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka are looking to continue their good form in the 2016 AFC Champions League.
Former champions Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka from Japan will look to build on solid starts to the AFC Champions League last week as the continental competition continues on Wednesday, while defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande from China are out to make a belated start to their campaign.Urawa, the 2007 winners, opened their fifth AFC Champions League campaign in Group H with a 2-0 home win over Australia’s Sydney FC last Wednesday thanks to goals from Yuki Muto and Shinzo Koroki at Saitama Stadium 2002.And after opening the new J.League season with a 2-1 away win over Kashiwa Reysol, Urawa travel to Korea Republic to face Pohang Steelers after the three-time continental champions claimed a creditable goalless draw in Guangzhou last week.“Of course, we can play much better with better combination work. But as the first one in the season we can give a credit to them,” said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic following the win over Sydney.“Winning the first game in the season can bring you confidence, and that can provide positive results in the coming games. That applies not only to the ACL campaign, but also to the J. League one, which we’ll have our opening game with two games in between. So, today’s win means a lot to us.”Guangzhou, meanwhile, will make the trip to Australia having won the Chinese Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Jiangsu FC on Saturday thanks to two goals from 2015 AFC Champions League MVP and top scorer Ricardo Goulart. Sydney also rebounded from last week’s defeat with a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in the A-League on Saturday.Also on Wednesday, 2008 winners Gamba entertain A-League champions Melbourne after beginning their Group G campaign with a goalless draw in Korea with Suwon Samsung Bluewings last week.Gamba, though, must bounce back from losing Sunday’s J.League opener 1-0 to Kashima Antlers.Suwon, meanwhile, travel to China to face debutants Shanghai SIPG with the home side seeking their first-ever points in the AFC Champions League following last week’s 2-1 defeat by Melbourne in Australia.And in the West on Wednesday, Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz will look to build on last week’s 4-0 home win over Al Jazira in the return meeting with the Arabian Gulf League side in Abu Dhabi.
Bakhtiar Rahmani scored twice last week as Tractorsazi eased to victory in the Group C opener at Yadegar Emam Stadium.
Bakhtiar Rahmani scored twice last week as Tractorsazi eased to victory in the Group C opener at Yadegar Emam Stadium.
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