Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Gwangju FC (KOR)
Al Hilal SFC will consider themselves as the favourites, given their unrivalled track record on the continental stage
Seeking a fifth Asian title, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal will spare no effort to be the first team to lay their hands on the AFC Champions League Elite trophy, especially after last year’s semi-final disappointment.
Jorge Jesus’ side, however, will have to tread carefully against a Gwangju FC team seeking to create more history.
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The only side from Korea Republic to have advanced to the quarter-finals, Gwangju are enjoying a fabulous debut on the continental stage and technical director Jang Ki-bong is confident they will not be overawed when taking on one of Asia’s biggest teams.
“We believe in our qualities and we feel that our performances showed that we deserve to be here. We created some drama with a dramatic comeback (against Japan’s Vissel Kobe in the Round of 16) and we are looking forward to more matches in this competition.
“Al Hilal are a good team – like most West teams are – and to be honest, are better than teams from the East. But we are not afraid and we will fight to defy the odds and make sure that we do everything we can to compete against them,” said Jang.
Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Buriram United (THA)
Al Ahli Saudi FC will head into the quarter-finals with the impressive record of nine wins and a draw on their continental journey so far, making them the clear favourites against a Buriram United side featuring in the quarter-finals for only the second time.
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Team media officer Faisal Yahya Zaid, while pleased with the draw result, said Al Ahli’s approach will be to take it one match at a time.
“The draw was amazing, it’s going to be a tough tournament. Every match is considered a knockout match. The road to the title will be very exciting.
“Our efforts are going to be intensified and we’re going to take it game by game to get to the final.”
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Buriram team manager Chonchanok Chidchob said with the target of reaching the Finals having been met, the Thai club’s focus now will be to go as far as they can at Jeddah 2025.
“The last time we got to the last eight stage (in 2013), it was very hard fought and we were real underdogs. This year might be a similar story. But we’re really excited and happy to be here.
“The entire club from top down had the dream to reach Jeddah 2025 and we worked hard for it. What’s important for us is to keep dreaming and not just stop because we have achieved our target,” said Chonchanok.
The winners of this tie will face either Al Hilal or Gwangju in the semi-finals.
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)
The Yokohama F. Marinos-Al Nassr Club tie has all the ingredients to be a classic with both teams aiming to emerge AFC Champions League winners for the first time.
Japan’s Marinos overcame a humbling defeat to Gwangju FC by embarking on a sizzling run into the quarter-finals and will be confident of going all the way, having emerged runners-up last season.
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Club ambassador Yasuhiro Hato believes Marinos will be a more potent outfit at the Finals, with the squad adapting to head coach Steve Holland’s methods.
“We are very honoured to finish as the top team in the East zone. We will do our best to justify this position with our performance.
“We are still going through a familiarisation phase under the new head coach. In the domestic league, we went through a difficult stage but we are now in a better shape and we have to use this to the best of our abilities to compete in Jeddah,” said Hato.
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)
Kawasaki Frontale’s immediate target will be to reach the semi-finals, with the Japanese side having fallen at the quarter-final stage three times.
Special ambassador Tetsuo Nakanishi, while acknowledging that 2011 champions Al Sadd SC will be formidable opponents, believes that Frontale have a very good chance of ending their quarter-final hoodoo.
“It’s a very difficult situation for the East teams, because we always play very difficult games against West Asian teams. Therefore, we need to prepare well.
“We are very happy to have reached the knockout stage and want to make it to the semi-finals for the first time. We will be ready to face Al Sadd, who are a strong team,” said Nakanishi.
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Al Sadd team manager Abdul Aziz Al Jaidi said the Qatari champions will not underestimate Frontale.
“We will not underestimate any team, especially since we will be playing against a side that has put in strong performances in this year’s AFC Champions League.
“We will be ready for the occasion, and we are very motivated,” said Al Jaidi.
Victory for either side will mean a semi-final showdown against either Marinos or Al Nassr.
