The AFC Champions League (ACL) 2015 resumes after a three-month interval as the first leg of its quarterfinals takes place on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 August. While Kashiwa welcome Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) at home on 25th, Gamba Osaka visit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) on the road play on 26th.

Chinese giants Guangzhou won the China Super League for the past four seasons in a row and grabbed the ACL title in 2013. After topping Group H, where Japan’s Kashima Antlers played, Guangzhou eliminated Korean side Seongnam FC in the first round of the knockout stage (Round of 16) to advance to the last 8 for four straight years.

One month after the victory in June, the team replaced their coach, former Italian international Fabio Cannavaro, with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led the Brazil National Team in the FIFA World Cup last year. They also snared two Brazilian internationals, midfielder Paulinho and forward Robinho during the season.

The big-spending side also have Brazilian international forward Ricardo Goulart and Chinese international forward GAO Lin. Goulart has been the top scorer in this ACL netting eight goals and also scored 11 goals in the Super League.

Gao has led his team's offence with 12 goals in the Chinese league this season. Since giving up their only loss in the Super League on 3 April, Guangzhou have remained unbeaten for 20 straight matches with 12 wins and eight losses, standing in second place so far.

Kashiwa, topping Group E, beat Suwon Samsung FC in Round of 16 on the away-goal rule to reach the last 8 for the first time since 2013 when they reached the semi-final match. Kashiwa faced Guangzhou in the group stage of the 2012 tournament and in the semi-final of the 2013 tournament. Kashiwa's record against Guangzhou is three losses and one tie.

After forward Leandro's departure in July, the Japanese side, who look for the first Asian title in their third appearance, strengthened the squad considerably by adding forward Ederson from Atletico Paranaense, who became the top scorer of the Brazil's first division league in 2013.

The 26-year-old Brazilian forward has quickly adapted to the team and marked his first J1 League goal on 12 August in his debut match against Vissel Kobe. Kashiwa forward Cristiano scored a hat-trick against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on 16 August.

Despite finishing 14th in the first stage of their domestic league, Kashiwa are on a three-match winning streak and standing in second place with six wins and two losses in the second stage. They look to capitalise on the positive momentum for the ACL.

Kashiwa midfielder TAKETOMI Kosuke says, "We are doing what we want to do as a team, and the momentum is coming our way. We will keep it up for the ACL."

Gamba playing in Korea Rep.

Gamba's away counterparts Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors became the runners-up in the 2011 tournament and seek for the first trophy since 2006. Jeonbuk passed through the Group E following Kashiwa and defeated Beijing Guoan (CHN) in the last 16 to clinch their sixth semi-final berth in the past eight tournament appearances.

After Round of 16, they let go of Brazilian attackers Edu and Eninho, yet free-kick specialist Leonardo is still playing well for the club. Additionally, South Korean international forward Lee Keun-ho and Spanish forward Urko Vera newly joined, and Brazilian forward Luiz Henrique came back from a UAE club.

Captain Lee Dong Gook, who has a long career with the Korea Republic national team, has shown his presence with eight K-league goals and four ACL goals.

Although their record in the K-League Classic is one win and two losses in the latest two matches, Jeonbuk did not lose any of the league matches from mid-June to 12 August with six wins and three tie and have not lost any of the ACL home matches this season, either.

Meanwhile, Gamba advanced to the quarterfinal for the first time since 2008 when they claimed the Asian championship.

The J.League outfit finished fourth in the first stage and stand in eighth place with three wins, two losses and three tie in the second stage. They have come back in form at the both ends of the pitch after keeping a clean sheet for the first time in the season and grabbed a 1-0 win over Shimizu on 22 August.

Gamba boss HASEGAWA Kenta says, "Scoring first and winning it with a clean sheet, it was big we actually got it done. We can go for the next one with confidence."

KONNO Yasuyuki, an experienced midfielder in the national team, is ruled out for the away first leg due to cumulative cards, but other players are in shape, including midfielder ENDO Yasuhito, who has a record 152 international caps for Japan, midfielder KURATA Shu and defender YONEKURA Koki, both of who made a debut with Japan National Team in the EAFF East Asian Cup the other day.

Gamba attackers USAMI Takashi and Patric have scored 16 goals and nine goals in the J.League respectively.

The matchup against Jeonbuk is for the first time since their first participation in the ACL in 2006 when they faced the Korean side in the group stage. Gamba's record against Korean teams is not bad this season. They fell to Seongnam FC on the road in March but beat them in the home rematch in May to pass through Group F atop. The Japanese side earned two straight wins over Seoul in Round of 16 to extend their winning streak against Korean teams to three.

Hasegawa says, "The match against Jeonbuk is going to be very tough. But we will unite and play hard to bring back a good result."

The second leg of the quarterfinals will take place on 15 and 16 September as Kashiwa play against Guangzhou on the road, and Gamba meet Jeonbuk at home. The aggregate score from the first and second legs determines the winners. The winners from the two matches will square off against each other in the semi-final.

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015

Quarter-Final
Tue. 25 August 2015 Kickoff 19:00 (subject to change)　Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium
Kashiwa Reysol (Japan) vs Guangzhou Evergrande (China)

Wed. 26 August 2015 Kickoff 19:00 (subject to change)　Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea) vs Gamba Osaka (Japan)

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