As each club has two more games to play in the group stage in the 2014 AFC Champions League, the next games could be critical for them on whether they will be able to qualify through the stage or not. The top two teams in each group will advance to the final 16.

Desperate F. Marinos

Yokohama F. Marinos, who will take on the 2006 ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea) at home on the 15th, have barely managed to earn four points and stuck in the last place in the group standings. The Japanese side will have to get nothing but a win so they can keep their hope to make it to the knockout stage intact. The reigning ACL champions Guanzhou Evergrande (China), who are currently the group leader, and the runner-up Hyundai have leads by three points with F. Marinos, but Hyundai beat Guangzhou in the previous week and will clinch the next stage with a win. Meanwhile, Yokohama finally posted their first victory in this year's ACL, but they lost to Vegalta Sendai, who are in the 17th place in the J. League on the 12th, and have not earned a win in the league in their last four matches. So for the game against Hyundai, which Yokohama will take the pitch with only two-day's rest, will be required mental refreshments and elaborate offensive plans. Meanwhile, Kawasaki Frontale will face Guizhou Renhe (China) away. Kawasaki are below Ulsan Hyundai (Korea) just by one point and tied with Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia) with the same points earned, but are currently in third place due to the goal differences. Frontale defeated Guizhou 1-0 in their first matchup and their winning streak were stopped at three as they drew with Kashiwa Reysol in the J. League season. But their combination plays around midfielder Kengo Nakamura are still threatening to their opponents. Yet Chinese teams tend to play more physical and tougher as they get vocal supports from their fans at home, and it should not be ignored that they halted the winning streak of Ulsan, the '11 ACL champions, with a win in their previous game. It will be a key for Kawasaki how much they can keep their composure and their own pace.

Hiroshima faces road games

The defending J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima will take on Beijing Guoan (China) away on the 16th. In the close Group F, Central Coast Mariners (Australia9 currently sits atop and Hiroshima, Beijing and FC Seoul (Korea) chase the Australian side by one points. If they are tied with the points in the end, the head-to-head results come above the goal differences and total goals, so Hiroshima wants to have a victory against Beijing, with whom the Japanese team drew in their first game at home. Beijing, who have kept winning in their league games and are tied with Guanzhou for the first-place in the standings, seem to be on a roll and tough to beat. Hiroshima, who took the lead in the league in the previous weekend, will miss defender Yuki Mizumoto, who was ejected in their previous game in Seoul. They hope to keep high concentration level and patience for their next games, that will be played away, around defender Tsukasa Shiotani and goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi.

Elsewhere, Cerezo Osaka will take on Pohang Steelers (Korea), who are the Group E leaders, at home also on the 16th. Cerezo are tied with Shandong Luneng F.C. (China) but are actually behind them because they had lost to the opponents 1-3 head-to-head, so will need to win it so they will keep their hope to remain in the tournament. Pohan, who also leads in their domestic league currently helped by their own winning streak, have potent offense and are a strong side without a doubt. Their offense, led by Kim Seung-Dae, who currently leads their domestic league with five goals, is fierce and and Cerezo will need to be careful defensively.

Every game will be tough battles, but look forward to how the J. League clubs will perform.