The final AFC Champions League motion of 2025 sees three of Okay League’s illustration play host with Gangwon FC welcoming Machida Zelvia, Ulsan HD taking over Buriram United, and Pohang Steelers entertaining BG Pathum United. FC Seoul, in the meantime, journey to China to tackle Shanghai Port because the AFC Champions League competitions attain Match Day 5.
AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday twenty fifth November
Gangwon FC (fifth) vs. Machida Zelvia (eighth, JPN) – 19:00
Two groups which are competing in ACL for the very first time meet on Tuesday when Gangwon FC tackle J1 facet Machida Zelvia. Gangwon have carried out higher to date with two wins, whereas their J1 counterparts have managed 5 factors from two attracts and one win. Each groups misplaced their final ACL matches, although; Gangwon suffered a 1-0 reverse away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, whereas Machida misplaced 2-1 at dwelling to Melbourne Metropolis. Sanfrecce was the second J.League facet Gangwon have confronted to date, the primary being Vissel Kobe in that seven-goal thriller, with Kim Gun-hee sending in a Ninety fifth-minute winner.
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Machida, in the meantime, have confronted FC Seoul, drawing 1-1 at dwelling. In home motion, Gangwon got here from behind to earn a draw away to Daejeon with Park Sang-hyeok heading dwelling his second purpose in three video games since coming back from army service. The draw means it is three unbeaten within the league for the Bears. For Zelvia, nevertheless, the relative minnows in comparison with their different J.League counterparts in ACLE, lifted the Emperor’s Cup, beating Vissel Kobe 3-1 because of objectives from Yuki Soma and Shita Fujio (2).
Gangwon will seemingly have lots of the ball, having racked up 60.4% possession (1st) rank first for interceptions per match with 11.3, however Zelvia have created probably the most ‘large probabilities’ within the East facet of the competitors with 13 and rank first for possession received within the closing third per match (6.3). With the league desk tight, a win may see both crew transfer up into the higher reaches. Gangwon may even go high with a powerful win.
Shanghai Port (twelfth, CHN) vs. FC Seoul (ninth) – 19:00
It has been a poor begin to the brand new AFC Champions League Elite marketing campaign for Chinese language Tremendous League giants Shanghai Port, sitting backside of the desk and three factors adrift of eleventh. The purpose earned from a 1-1 draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima stays as their solely level on the board. At dwelling, they’ve misplaced twice with 5 objectives shipped with out reply. FC Seoul, then, will see the journey to Shanghai on Tuesday as a great probability so as to add to their solely win to date. Okay League’s capital membership illustration has 5 factors from one win, two attracts, and one loss. Shanghai Port, although, sealed the Chinese language Tremendous League title over the weekend through a 1-0 win away to Dalian Zhixing. The identical form of success cannot be mentioned for FC Seoul, who look set to complete fifth on the highest in Okay League 1. Kim Gi-dong’s facet misplaced 3-1 at dwelling to Gimcheon on the weekend to make it three matches with out a win.
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The 2 groups have met earlier than, however solely twice, with Shanghai Port popping out on high on each events in 2017.FC Seoul aren’t any strangers to Chinese language Tremendous League opposition, however have misplaced 5 out of their final six 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 general document in ACL reads received seven, drawn 10, misplaced seven. Two of these attracts embrace the 2013 closing with Guangzhou Evergrande, which was misplaced on away objectives. Shanghai Port’s document in opposition to Okay League sides through the years reads seven wins, 4 attracts, and 5 losses. Their final encounter with a Korean crew was in 2024, going through and beating Pohang and Ulsan, and drawing with Gwangju.
Seoul rank first for correct passes per match with 485 and are second for possession (59%), however it is going to be about how they’ll enhance their fortunes in entrance of purpose; they rank sixth for photographs heading in the right direction per match (4.3) however third for giant probabilities missed with six.
Wednesday twenty sixth November
Ulsan HD (4th) vs Buriram United (sixth, THA) – 19:00
With Okay League 1 survival nonetheless not secured, Ulsan HD caretaker supervisor Noh Sang-rae can unwell afford to discipline a stronger crew for the Horangi’s subsequent continental encounter. They’ll, nevertheless, be trying to bounce again from a loss of their final ACL match, a 1-0 away reverse to Vissel Kobe. Ulsan sit fourth within the ACLE desk and will transfer high with a win. The guests to the Munsu this Wednesday, Buriram United, are solely a degree behind, having picked up two wins from their first 4 video games, and would possibly really feel as if they’ve the psychological benefit having tamed the Okay League tigers in the one earlier assembly – a 2-1 dwelling win in February this 12 months. That loss was solely Ulsan’s second in opposition to Thai opposition from eight whole conferences, incomes 5 wins and two attracts.
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Buriram United make the journey to Korea on the again of a powerful 5-0 win over Muangthong United to make it 4 factors clear with a sport in hand over second within the Thai Premier League desk. Austrian attacking midfielder Robert Zulj scored a hat-trick and Brazilian striker Bissoli bagged a brace. Buriram have confronted Okay League opposition already this season, shedding 3-0 away to FC Seoul. The Thai giants’ document in opposition to Okay League sides is 5 wins, six attracts, and ten losses, with their most up-to-date win coming in opposition to Ulsan in final season’s competitors.
AFC Champions League Two
Thursday twenty seventh November
Pohang Steelers (2nd) vs. BG Pathum United (third, THA) – 19:00
Pohang Steelers have work to do if they’re to complete as winners of Group H. Doing so is presently out of their arms following a loss and a draw with Tampines Rovers of their final two ACL Two matches. This Thursday, the Steelers tackle BG Pathum United, who sit only a place and a degree beneath them; a constructive outcome will likely be seen as essential.
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BG Pathum United head into the match having received their final two ACL Two matches, in opposition to Kaya, nevertheless, a facet that has misplaced all 4 of its matches and scored simply as soon as. Eyes will likely be on what kind of crew Park Tae-ha places out, having opted to discipline one thing of a second string with the league a precedence. However with the Steelers unable to complete any increased or decrease than fourth, the previous midfielder might take into consideration choosing some extra of his first-team gamers. BG Pathum United have endured a combined begin to the Thai Premier League season, sitting fifth. A 0-0 draw with Ratchaburi FC meant it has been two stalemates in a row.
BG Pathum’s document in opposition to Okay League opposition reads one win, one draw, 4 losses; the newest encounters got here in opposition to Ulsan in 2023, shedding on each events. The one win got here in opposition to Jeonnam Dragons in 2022. When it comes to who to observe, Pohang striker Cho Sang-hyeok is first for photographs heading in the right direction per match with 3.9 and first for photographs per match with 8.5, whereas BG’s Matheus Fornazari and Tomoyuki Doi are second and third, respectively, with 6.9 and 6.6.
