With only the top eight sides from the East and West Zones respectively to advance to the knockout stage, victories will be crucial with each team to play eight matches in the league stage.
Three in a row for Gwangju?
Gwangju FC lead the East standings and the debutants will be aiming to continue their dream start when they welcome Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim for their top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday.
Victories against Japanese sides Yokohama F. Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale mean they are the only East team still with a perfect record but they will do well to tread with caution against Johor Darul Ta’zim, who have won four of their previous nine meetings with outfits from Korea Republic and have started the ongoing campaign with four points.
Al Hilal test for Al Ain
UAE’s Al Ain FC will welcome Al Hilal SFC to the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday six months after ending the Saudi Pro League side’s hopes of winning the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title.
Led by Soufiane Rahimi, breathtaking football saw Al Ain defeating Al Hilal 6-3 in the semi-finals as they went on to lift the coveted trophy for the second time in their history.
Al Hilal have started their season in fiery fashion and will be seeking revenge but Al Ain have a decent record in their previous meetings – having won six – and will be seeking victory to kickstart their campaign after having collected just one point from their previous two matches.
Desperate Ulsan face Kobe test
Two defeats in as many matches mean Ulsan HD lie bottom of the East standings and in desperate need of points when they host Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.
Although Ulsan defeated Kobe in their only previous meeting on the continental stage – a 2-1 win in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 2020 – the Korea Republic side have lost their last three matches against Japanese opposition.
A third consecutive defeat on Wednesday would mean equaling their worst-ever start to a continental campaign – having also done so in 2014 when they failed to advance from the group stage.
Persepolis out to end barren run
It will be a meeting between familiar foes when Persepolis FC travel to face Al Sadd SC on Monday, with the Islamic Republic of Iran side desperate to kick start their campaign.
With just a point to show after two matches and on a run of five consecutive games without a victory on the continental stage, Al Sadd could well be the opposition they need – having defeated the Qatari side in four of their previous seven meetings.
Al Sadd, however, will also be relishing their chances after a fast start which sees them on four points as the AFC Champions League 2011 winners eye a knockout stage spot for the first time in four editions.
Buriram United on a mission
The last time Buriram United advanced to the knockout stage was in 2018 but having defeated Australia’s Central Coast Mariners 2-1 on Matchday Two to sit on four points, the Thai side will feel they are on course to end their long wait.
They welcome Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers to the Buriram Stadium on Tuesday in what will be a third meeting between the two sides and if they can defeat the three-time Asian champions for the first time, Buriram will look ahead to their remaining matches with confidence.
