Losing no time in any respect, Match Day 2 of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two beckons this week. FC Seoul will get their house marketing campaign up and operating in opposition to acquainted opposition, whereas Gangwon FC and Ulsan HD can be trying to construct on their Match Day 1 wins over Chinese language Tremendous League opposition.
Commercial
AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday thirtieth September
FC Seoul (seventh) vs. Buriram United (fifth) – 19:00 KST
Seeking to construct on the Match Day 1 draw away to J1 League minnows Machida Zelvia, FC Seoul will get their house marketing campaign underway with the go to of Thai giants Buriram United this Tuesday. Buriram eased previous Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia of their ACLE opener, incomes a 2-1 win due to targets from Thailand worldwide Suphanat Mueanta on 50 minutes, and Austrian midfielder Robert Žulj, whose 54th-minute strike meant a fast turnaround following Cristian’s opener for JDT. Buriram are not any strangers to Okay League opposition, and have 5 wins, 5 attracts, and 9 losses from 19 conferences. 4 of these matches had been in opposition to FC Seoul, with two ending in Seoul wins and two ending in attracts. Seoul have a good file in opposition to Thai opposition in ACL, having misplaced simply as soon as to a group from Thailand, that being 2-1 to Chiangrai United within the 2020 competitors, to present Seoul a file of three wins, two attracts, and one loss. Seoul can be buoyed by their 3-0 house win over Gwangju FC on the weekend, with targets coming from Marko Dugandžić, Lee Seung-mo, and Moon Seon-min. Buriram received on the weekend, too, incomes a 2-1 away victory over Bangkok United. They sit prime of the Thai Premier League desk with 5 wins from 5, 14 targets scored, and 5 conceded.
Commercial
Chengdu Rongcheng (tenth) vs. Gangwon FC (third) – 21:15 KST
Gangwon FC head into their first-ever AFC Champions League away recreation having made historical past in Match Day 1, incomes the membership’s first-ever win in continental competitors in what was the Bears’ maiden voyage. A much-rotated Gangwon facet ran out 2-1 winners at house to Shanghai Shenhua due to targets from Hong Chul and Goo Bon-cheol, efficiently turning the match round after João Teixeira had given the Chinese language Tremendous League facet the lead. Chengdu Rongcheng, in the meantime, suffered a 2-1 reverse away to Ulsan HD, regardless of having taken the lead. Chengdu are the Chinese language Tremendous League table-toppers, however solely simply. After a 1-1 draw with Shanghai Shenhua on Sunday, Chengdu’s lead is due to their purpose distinction, having conceded far fewer (19-36) than second-placed Shanghai Port. Heading into the go to of Gangwon, Chengdu are on a run of eight unbeaten within the league, 11 at house within the league. Tuesday’s conflict would be the first-ever between the 2 groups, the primary house match in ACL for the Search engine optimization Jung-won-led Chengdu Rongcheng, and first on the highway for Gangwon.
Wednesday 1st October
Shanghai Shenhua (ninth) vs. Ulsan HD (4th) – 21:15
It is back-to-back fixtures with Okay League opposition for Shanghai Shenhua to start the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League. Likewise, it is back-to-back fixtures in opposition to Chinese language Tremendous League sides for Ulsan. Shanghai Shenhua misplaced 2-1 away to Gangwon FC in Match Day 1, regardless of taking the lead, whereas Ulsan got here again from behind to earn a win over Chengdu Rongcheng. Shanghai Shenhua sit third within the Chinese language Tremendous League, simply three factors behind Chengdu and metropolis rivals Shanghai Port, however their type has begun to battle. Shenhua are actually on a run of 4 with no win in all competitions, three within the league after back-to-back attracts with Shandong Taishan and Rongcheng. The 2 sides met final yr, with Ulsan choosing up what grew to become a uncommon ACL win, and likewise met in 2020 when the Horangi went on to assert the title, with what was then Kim Do-hoon’s facet successful 4-1 and 3-1 within the group stage. Shanghai Shenhua have a file of 5 wins, two attracts, and 12 losses in opposition to Okay League sides. Ulsan have confronted Chinese language Tremendous League opposition, incomes 11 wins, two attracts, and 4 losses.