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Sydney FC travel to China to play Shandong Luneng in the first leg of the round of 16 at the Asian Champions League. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 9:30pm (AEST).
Both sides will be looking to make amends for disappointing seasons in their respective domestic competitions.
Sydney FC struggled throughout their A-League campaign and finished in seventh place.
Shandong has had a tough couple of years in the Chinese Super League with the rise of Guangzhou Evergrande, who have taken the competition by storm with big spending and ruthless displays on the pitch.
This is the first time Sydney have reached the round of 16 in the Asian Champions League and has been well earned after the Sky Blues topped the ‘group of death’. Shandong though, are well drilled at knocking out Australian teams, having brushed past Adelaide United with a 2-1 victory.
Shandong will be looking to their imports for attacking power in this match.
Diego Tardelli and Aloisi played leading roles last year but have been struggling for form this season. Goalkeeper Wang Dalei has been a key member of the tame Shandong defence with his performances in front of the net resulting in only 16 goals scored against in the domestic competition.
Sydney FC are underdogs, but with Shandong only securing two out of nine wins in their domestic competition the Aussies might sneak by with a determined, tenacious effort.
Sydney will look to play wide and use their height up front against the shorter Chinese side. Expect the visitors to sit deep in defence and play wide through their wingers on the counter attack.
Prediction
Shandong should get the job done at home.
Shandong 2-1.
Can the Aussie battlers can overcome the might of Shandong? Join The Roar for live coverage from 9:30pm (AEST).
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