Guangzhou: Two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande will welcome Kashima Antlers to Tianhe Stadium on Tuesday as the Chinese and Japanese champions meet in the first-leg of the last 16.
After failing to make it beyond the group stage last year, Guangzhou return to the knockout rounds for the fifth time in six years, while the visitors are making their first appearance in the Round of 16 since 2011.
The hosts sit top of the Chinese Super League after a 2-1 victory over Jiangsu FC on Friday secured their sixth successive league win.
Kashima, though, are enduring a poor run of form and their 3-0 home defeat to Kawasaki Frontale at the weekend was their second loss in a row.
The teams last met in the 2015 group stage when Guangzhou claimed an enthralling 4-3 win at Tianhe Stadium, before Kashima ran out 2-1 victors in Japan.
Guangzhou would eventually lift the continental title while Kashima fell at the first hurdle.
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com