The AFC Champions League Elite league stage reaches its midway level with a few Korea-Japan clashes. Gangwon FC and Ulsan HD journey throughout the East Sea to tackle Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe, respectively, whereas FC Seoul shall be seeking to bounce again from defeat final day trip with their second match in opposition to Chinese language Tremendous League opposition in as many matches.
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AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday 4th November
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (seventh, JPN) vs. Gangwon FC (third) – 19:00 KST
Sitting third and seeking to construct on the unbelievable win over Vissel Kobe, a match which noticed Gangwon go 3-0 up, be pegged again at 3-3 earlier than discovering a late winner, the Bears once more tackle Japanese opposition in Match Day 4. They face a Sanfrecce Hiroshima aspect that narrowly misplaced to Ulsan HD on Match Day 3. In home motion, the Bears earned a really credible level at house in opposition to champions Jeonbuk on the weekend, nevertheless it signifies that their solely win in eight matches has been within the ACL, with 4 attracts and three losses.
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Sanfrecce, in the meantime, beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 within the J.League Cup Last of their final outing on Saturday, due to objectives from Hayato Araki, Shunki Higashi, and Ryo Germain within the first half. The victory ended a run of three matches with out one amongst competitions, having suffered back-to-back losses with Ulsan 1-0 within the ACL after which 3-0 to Yokohama F. Marinos in J. League. Together with this present marketing campaign, Sanfrecce have a file of 5 wins, two attracts, and 4 losses in opposition to Ok League opposition. Gangwon will look to their win over Vissel Kobe as a confidence increase, however are a aspect that is proven it could possibly maintain possession, rating first in that regard in the entire competitors with 59.5%. Sanfrecce, although, work their manner into the 18-yard field with the second-highest variety of touches within the opposition space (92) and the very best variety of corners (28).
FC Seoul (fifth) vs. Chengdu Rongcheng (ninth, CHN) – 19:00 KST
Up subsequent for FC Seoul, aiming to place a harmful Ok League defeat to Daejeon Hana Citizen behind them, is the go to of Chengdu Rongcheng. The aspect led by former Bluewings boss Search engine optimisation Jung-won is the second Chinese language Tremendous League aspect in succession to face Seoul in ACL, however first to go to Sangam this time period. They make the journey throughout the West Sea sitting third within the CSL desk, however with one win in 5 domestically, and and not using a win in three in all competitions. A 2-0 loss to JDT in ACL was then adopted up with a 2-2 draw with Qingdao West Coast, then a 2-1 loss to Henan. Seoul, in the meantime, sitting fith in Ok League 1 and within the ACL standings, are struggling for consistency, having recorded simply two wins of their final six in all competitions. Profitable ACLE could be their solely manner of qualifying for the competitors subsequent season.
Chengdu Rongcheng, being within the ACL for the very first time, have solely come up in opposition to Ok League opposition as soon as earlier than, shedding 1-0 to Ulsan on the Munsu. FC Seoul aren’t any strangers to Chinese language Tremendous League opposition, however have misplaced their final 5 matches in opposition to Chinese language sides relationship again to 2017. Their final win over CSL opposition was a 4-1 victory over Shandong Luneng within the 2016 quarterfinal. Their total file in ACL reads gained seven, drawn 9, misplaced seven. Two of these attracts embrace the 2013 remaining with Guangzhou Evergrande, which was misplaced on away objectives. Seoul are the East aspect of the competitors’s most correct passers per match with 445.3, and are first for ‘massive possibilities’ created, whereas Chengdu have dedicated essentially the most fouls per match with 17, are second for yellow playing cards with seven, and third for tackles per match with 17.7.
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Wednesday fifth November
Vissel Kobe (2nd, JPN) vs. Ulsan HD (1st)- 19:00 KST
A stark distinction from their struggling type domestically, Ulsan HD are the AFC Champions League Elite league stage leaders heading into Match Day 4, following two wins and a draw. Seeking to construct on the win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the Horangi journey to Kobe to tackle the reigning J1 League champions. Kobe, although, suffered defeat to Gangwon FC of their final ACL outing, however sit second. A win, then, might ship Kobe prime.
Ulsan shall be seeking to put the disappointing loss to FC Anyang behind them. With relegation returning as a real concern, or at the very least having to undergo the relegation playoffs and a crunch conflict with Suwon FC to return this Sunday, caretaker supervisor Noh Sang-rae could look to discipline a second string in Kobe. Kobe, in the meantime, drew 2-2 with Albirex Niigata on Sunday, making it back-to-back attracts within the league and no wins in 4 in all competitions, and shall be eager to return to successful methods. They’re fourth within the desk, 5 factors behind leaders Kashima Antlers, with three video games to go. Wednesday’s contest could take a again seat with home commitments extra of a precedence within the quick time period. Vissel Kobe are the highest scorers within the East aspect of the competitors with seven and first for pictures on course per match with 5.7, however Ulsan have the joint-second lowest objectives in opposition to tally with two, sit third for clearances made per match with 31, and fourth for correct crosses per match with 4.7.
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AFC Champions League Two
Thursday sixth November
Pohang Steelers (2nd) vs. Tampines Rovers (1st, SGP) – 19:00
Pohang Steelers shall be searching for revenge when Tampines Rovers go to the Metal Yard on Thursday. The Singapore Premier League aspect struck inside 15 seconds within the first assembly between the 2 sides in Match Day 3. Steelers boss Park Tae-ha admitted he was disenchanted with the efficiency and so could wish to discipline extra of a stronger aspect for the house conflict. Rovers are at the moment third of their home league following two wins and two attracts. They beat Hougang United 2-1 of their final home outing on October twenty seventh, and sit to of Group H in ACL Two following three wins. The win over Pohang was their first-ever over a Ok League aspect, having beforehand suffered heavy losses to Jeonbuk in 2021.
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Koya Kazama is the competitors’s joint-top scorer with three objectives in three matches and first for large possibilities created with 4. Cho Sang-hyeok is second for pictures per 90 with 8.8 and third for pictures on course per 90 with 3.7. The highest three most correct passes made per 90 have all been made by Pohang gamers – Kim Dong-jin (99), Lee Dong-hee (98.3), and Jonathan Aspropotamitis (94). As a crew, Pohang have had essentially the most possession amongst all of the groups from the East with 69.9% on common, have dispatched the joint-highest variety of pictures on course per match with seven, essentially the most correct passes per match, the second-highest variety of correct lengthy balls per match, and are second for correct crosses per match with 9.3. Coach Park, then, shall be hoping that the 1-0 loss in Match Day 3 was a mere blip.