Kuala Lumpur: The final eight places in the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage will be confirmed on Tuesday, with four mouth-watering games to be held in East Asia.
In total, seven countries will be represented with two sides from Japan and a team apiece from Australia, China, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam all aiming to secure their places in the competition proper.
Shandong Luneng v Hanoi FC
Arguably the pick of the games sees China’s Shandong Luneng take on a Hanoi FC side that boasts a number of players who helped Vietnam excel at the recent AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 and prior to that lift the 2018 AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Cup.
Shandong’s last appearance on the continent saw them reach the quarter-finals in 2016, while Hanoi are targeting a maiden qualification. The Vietnamese side advanced past Bangkok United in Preliminary Stage 2 to reach the Play-off round.
Shandong Luneng (CHN) v Hanoi FC (VIE)
Venue: Jinan Olympic Sports Centre, Jinan
Kick-off: February 19, 15:30 UTC+8
Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Chiangrai United
Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima will be looking to progress to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2016 when they host Thailand’s Chiangrai United, who are aiming to cause an upset to advance to the tournament for the first time.
Sanfrecce have appeared on four previous occasions, with their best performance being the Round of 16 in 2014. Thai FA Cup winners Chiangrai, who have never played in the Group Stage before, overcame Myanmar’s Yangon United in Preliminary Stage 2 to reach the Play-off round.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) vs Chiangrai United (THA)
Venue: Hiroshima Athletic Stadium, Hiroshima
Kick-off: February 19, 19:00 UTC+9
Kashima Antlers v Newcastle Jets
Holders Kashima Antlers will have to earn the right to defend their title at the 2019 AFC Champions League, with Australia’s Newcastle Jets standing in the way of a place in this year's Group Stage.
J.League side Kashima claimed continental glory by defeating the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis in the 2018 final. Newcastle, who defeated Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta after extra time in Preliminary Round 2, have appeared just once in the tournament's Group Stage, back in 2009 when they would go on to reach the last 16.
Kashima Antlers (JPN) vs Newcastle Jets (AUS)
Venue: Kashima Soccer Stadium, Ibaraki
Kick-off: February 19, 19:00 UTC+9
Ulsan Hyundai v Perak
Former AFC Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai will qualify for their seventh edition if they can see off the challenge of Malaysia’s Perak, whose penalty shootout victory over Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC brought them within a game of reaching the tournament for the first time.
Ulsan won the competition in 2012 but have only once gone beyond the group stage since, while Perak are looking to join domestic rivals Johor Darul Ta’zim in the first round proper as Malaysia makes its long-awaited debut in the competition.
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs Perak (MAS)
Venue: Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan
Kick-off: February 19, 19:30 UTC+9
Photos: Hanoi FC, Getty Images, Perak Football Association
Source: the-afc.com