Gareth Southgate’s former England assistant Steve Holland has his first match answerable for Yokohama F-Marinos this week, with an opportunity to information final season’s finalists into the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage.
The East Zone will play a penultimate spherical of fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday within the new-look continental championship’s league stage, with 11 of the 12 golf equipment nonetheless in rivalry for the eight berths accessible within the final 16.
Japan’s Yokohama prime the desk on 13 factors from six video games with a greater purpose distinction than South Korea’s Gwangju and Japanese champions Vissel Kobe.
All three play Chinese language opposition this week realizing {that a} draw from certainly one of their two remaining matches will clinch a spot within the knockout stage.
“I believe the membership has achieved job to retain essential gamers from final season so now we have good stability from that respect,” mentioned Holland, in his first job since Southgate stepped down after shedding the ultimate of final yr’s Euros.
Yokohama, overwhelmed by Al Ain over two legs in final season’s closing beneath Australian Harry Kewell, are at house in opposition to Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday.
Vissel Kobe, who received their second straight J. League title final yr, host Shanghai Port on Tuesday whereas Gwangju go to Shandong Taishan the identical day.
Lots of the East zone groups are but to start their 2025 home campaigns and Holland mentioned he hoped to hit the bottom working.
“We’re making an attempt to get gamers in the suitable positions that give them the chance to utilise the qualities that they’ve,” he mentioned.
Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale are one level behind the main trio and so they can even advance with a win on Tuesday at South Korea’s Pohang Steelers, who’re three factors additional again.
The race for the ultimate three berths within the prime eight may be very tight with Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim, Shanghai Port and Thailand’s Buriram United all on eight factors in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
Johor journey to Australia on Tuesday to go to rock-bottom Central Coast Mariners, who’re the one workforce eradicated thus far.
Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan are one level off the highest eight in ninth and tenth.
South Korea’s Ulsan, semi-finalists final yr and home champions for the previous three seasons, lie eleventh on three factors with their qualification possibilities hanging by a thread.
Ulsan should win each of their closing two matches, beginning at Buriram on Wednesday, and depend on different outcomes going their method to have any likelihood of qualifying.
The West Zone have already performed seven matches with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and the opposite star-studded Saudi Arabian sides — Al Ahli and Al Hilal — already reaching the final 16.
The ultimate spherical of league fixtures happen subsequent week. The last-16 matches can be performed over two legs in March. Saudi Arabia will then host the quarter-finals, semi-finals and closing from April 25 to Might 4.
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