The only Japanese team with a fixed place in the 2016 AFC Champions League before the Emperor’s Cup victory – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – are in Group F with FC Seoul and Buriram United, plus a play-off winner to be determined.

With Gamba’s Emperor’s Cup victory over Urawa Reds the Osaka team slot into Group G of the 2016 AFC Champions League where they will face Melbourne Victory, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and another from February’s playoffs.

Emperor’s Cup runners-up Urawa Red Diamonds, meanwhile, slip into Group H where they will meet reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Sydney FC, and the winner of a Playoff that could well be (should be?) Pohang Steelers.

Meanwhile, a place in Group E is up for grabs by FC Tokyo – Japan’s fourth team in the competition – should they beat the winner of the clash between Chonburi and Yangon United in their playoff 2 on February 9th.

Group E

1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea)
2. Jiangsu Sainty (China)
3. Becamex Binh Duong (Vietnam)
4. Winner Playoff 2 (FC Tokyo?!)

Group F

1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2. FC Seoul (Korea)
3. Buriram United (Thailand)
4. Winner Playoff 3

Group G

1. Melbourne Victory (Australia)
2. Gamba Osaka
3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korea)
4. Winner Playoff 4

Group H

1. Guangzhou Evergrande (China)
2. Sydney FC (Australia)
3. Urawa Reds
4. Winner Playoff East 1

Playoff Stage – East (February 9, 2016)

FC Tokyo v Winner of Chonburi  (Thailand) v Yangon United  (Myanmar)

Report from AFC web site:

The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before mid-season signing Paulinho (pictured) doubled the advantage before half-time with an eye-catching 40-yard set-piece.

Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.

Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.

Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was without Brazilian striker Elkeson although compatriot Paulinho was handed a first start in the competition, while Kashiwa were without injured duo Hidekazu Otani and Naoki Wako.

And Paulinho was quickly into the action in front of a vibrant capacity crowd at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium as Huang Bowen’s fifth minute free-kick from the left was headed into his own net by Suzuki as the Kashiwa captain looked to stop the delivery from reaching the Brazilian close to the penalty spot.

The visitors continued to dominate as the half progressed with Zhang Linpeng and Zheng Long flashing efforts off target for Guangzhou with Kashiwa struggling for a foothold in the game with the absence of experienced midfielder Otani and defender Wako being particularly felt by the home side.

And five minutes before half-time, with the home side having not registered a shot on target, Guangzhou doubled their lead as Paulinho’s vicious swerving free-kick spectacularly found the top corner from all of 40 yards with Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.

Kashiwa striker Cristiano was unable to match his compatriot’s effort 10 minutes into the second half as the Brazilian’s free-kick from just outside of the penalty area drifted wide, although it did signal an improved display from the home side at the start of the second 45 minutes.

But seven minutes before the hour mark Guangzhou added a third as Gao’s angled glancing header from Huang’s chipped left wing cross into the penalty area looped over Sugeno.

Cristiano and substitute Ederson threatened for Kashiwa inside the final 20 minutes but Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained largely untested.

But after Kosuke Taketomi saw a late header rebound off the crossbar, Zeng was beaten inside the last minute of normal time as Kudo converted from close range to give Kashiwa a glimmer of hope for the return meeting in three weeks’ time.

http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/acl-qf-kashiwa-reysol-1-3-guangzhou-evergrande

South China Morning Post report:

Guangzhou Evergrande took a major step towards booking a berth in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 3-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol in Japan on Tuesday night.

Paulinho, making his debut in the competition after joining Guangzhou from the English Premier League club last month, scored with a sensational free kick from close to 40 yards and was also instrumental in his side’s opener as the 2013 champions looked in good touch.

“That was definitely the best goal of my career,” said the 27-year-old, whose long-range effort left Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.

The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before Paulinho doubled the advantage before half-time with his super strike.

Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.

Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.

Despite the result, Scolari remained cautious, saying: “It was an exciting game and both teams were very strong. We were able to make good decisions on the pitch and that was the main difference, but the result of the first leg is not decisive in this kind of competition.

“I am very confident about my team’s performance in the second leg, but I also respect Kashiwa and we will not underestimate them. I think Kashiwa is the strongest opponent I have faced in my 12 games in charge of Guangzhou so far. The Kashiwa coach had prepared his team very well and they put us under a lot of pressure.”

http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1852550/paulinho-inspires-guangzhou-evergrande-3-1-victory-over-kashiwa-reysol

Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande face Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League on the same night,  with the former winners looking to cement their place in the knockout stage, while the J.League side are under pressure to claim their first points of the campaign in Group H.

Following their action-packed encounter last month in southern China as Guangzhou edged a seven-goal thriller to maintain their 100% record, the 2013 champions are currently five points clear of defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia and 2013 runners-up FC Seoul.

Kashima, though, are a further four points off the pace after also losing to Western Sydney and FC Seoul and Toninho Cerezo’s side are in danger of missing out on securing a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2011.

“Although we lost the game, we were able to give a good match and play beautiful football. This is the charm of the sport: even if you don’t win you can give good matches,” said Cerezo following the 4-3 defeat in China a fortnight ago. Our pictures show Mu Kanazaki (above) and Gaku Shibasaki (below).

“I didn’t see any big differences between my players and the Guangzhou players. We just couldn’t convert our chances into goals so we may need some good strikers.”

Also in Group H, Western Sydney entertain FC Seoul after the pair shared a goalless draw in Korea Republic a fortnight ago.

In Group F, bottom side Gamba Osaka will take on undefeated leaders Buriram United of Thailand, with the Japanese champions needing to secure maximum points to claw back some of the six point margin that separates the two sides.

Having only scored once in their three group matches this season, former champions Gamba are further hampered by the suspension of Brazilian forward Patric (pictured above), a pivotal member of their treble-winning side in 2014.

On Wednesday night Kashiwa Reysol (above, Daisuke Suzuki in action) are away at Shandong Luneng, who they beat 201 two weeks ago, sitting atop the group with seven points – alongside Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors – while Urawa Reds (pictures below) – with no points to their name in Group G – entertain Beijing Guoan, who sit prettily on top of the group with maximum points after three matches.

Some teams may well have decided their fate by the end of this round. Or had their fate decided for them. Watch this space!

Images courtesy of World Sport Group