Wanderers kick-start ACL defence as Roar search for their first win

With the Central Coast Mariners crashing out of the 2015 Asian Champions League prematurely last week, just two Australian clubs are left to battle it out for the prestigious trophy.

Western Sydney Wanderers have a tough task in defending their title, and will be marked men in one of the tournament’s toughest groups, while Brisbane Roar will be looking to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time in their short history.

Let’s take a quick look at Brisbane and Western Sydney’s group opponents ahead of their opening fixtures on Wednesday.

Brisbane Roar: Group G
Opponents: Urawa Red Diamonds, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Beijing Guoan FC

Brisbane Roar have an uninspiring history in the Asian Champions League, and that will need to change if the club wants to improve its reach in Asia. In 2012 they failed to win a group match, recording three draws and three losses against the likes of FC Tokyo, Beijing Guoan and Ulsan Hyundai FC.

They conceded 11 goals in the six matches, failing to keep a clean sheet while only scoring 6. It was in stark contrast to their domestic season, where they finished second, scoring 50 goals and conceding just 28 in 27 regular season matches, which was crowned with a grand final victory over Perth Glory.

Their only other chance to play in Asia’s premier club competition was in 2013, where they failed to qualify for the group stages, losing out to Thailand club Buriram United on penalties following a goalless draw.

So the 2015 venture poses an opportunity for Brisbane to really give the ACL a good shake, especially in the wake of a subdued A-League season which is only just starting to catch fire.

Their decent form in Australia bodes well, with three consecutive victories against Wellington, Newcastle and Central Coast, while they’ll kick-start their ACL campaign hosting familiar opponents Beijing Guoan on Wednesday. The ‘home’ match, played on the Gold Coast at Robina Stadium due to the unavailability of Suncorp Stadium, will be the Roar’s third match against Beijing in the ACL. The two teams have previously played out two 1-1 draws.

Beijing have been regular competitors in the ACL for the last six years, though have failed to progress past the round of 16. Last season they slumped out in the group stages with just one win. They defeated former Roar captain Matt Smith’s new Thai club, Bangkok Glass, in a playoff last week.

Brisbane will then face Urawa Red Diamonds on March 4, who finished second in last season’s J. League and won the Champions League in 2007. The journey to the Reds’ intimidating Saitama Stadium will be tough on the Roar, as it squeezes between a trip to Perth and home fixture against Western Sydney.

Brisbane’s third opponents are South Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who are previous Champions League victors, at Robina on March 17. Suwon will feature a certain Brazilian flavour this season, with strikers Léo and Kaio joining established playmaker Santos.

Manager Frans Thijssen has had to make some tough decisions with his squad, as the Champions League 3+1 rule only allows three marquees outside the Asian confederation. Therefore Jerome Polenz and Solorzano have been left out, with Thomas Broich, Henrique and recent signings Andrija Kaluderovic making the squad.

Brisbane have a good chance of progressing to the knockout rounds, and have the upper hand in the early rounds with the J. League, K League and Chinese Super League yet to start. A quick start against Beijing will be crucial before a testing trip to Urawa.

Fixtures
Brisbane vs Beijing Guoan (February 25 – Robina) —- two 1-1 draws
Urawa Red vs Brisbane (March 4 – Saitama)
Brisbane vs Suwon (March 17 – Robina)

Suwon vs Brisbane (April 21 – Suwon)
Beijing Guoan v Brisbane (April 21 – Workers)
Brisbane vs Urawa Red (May 5 – Robina)

Western Sydney Wanderers: Group H
Opponents: Guangzhou Evergrande, Kashima Antlers and FC Seoul

Western Sydney’s domestic season has been nothing short of a disaster, with Tony Popovic’s side winning just one game in 16. Their run to the Asian Champions League final last year, which they ultimately and remarkably won, no doubt disrupted the start of the campaign, but Popovic has been unable to stop the slide.

Key players have departed since their successful ACL run last year, while new signings have failed to make a positive impression. The club has let go several players go, including the creative spark of Vitor Saba, who never really fit into Popovic’s defensive mind frame.

Kerem Bulut and Nikita Rukavytsya are the local flavours who will be hoping to spearhead a Wanderers revival in Asia, while Popovic has also astutely signed Japanese duo Yusuke Tanaka and Yojiro Takahagi, who played in the 2014 campaign with Kawasaki Frontale and Sanfrecce Hiroshima respectively.

Despite their hot form last season, it would be a miracle for Popovic’s side to make a similar impression, and even getting out of the group stages this time around would be a massive achievement.

The Wanderers have been drawn in one of the tournament’s toughest groups, and despite the familiar faces of Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul, who Western Sydney defeated in the knockout rounds on their way to glory, progression will be difficult.

But before facing old foes, the Wanderers travel to Kashima Antlers on Wednesday to begin their title defence. Kashima are Japan’s most successful club, having won the league seven times and the cup on five occasions. But they haven’t won a J League title since 2009, while this is their first Champions League appearance since 2011.

Kashima, like many Asian clubs, has a distinct reliance on Brazil, with manager Toninho Cerezo their ninth coach from the South American country in 20 years. They also have three Brazilians in their squad for 2015.

Evergrande will be a juicy tie when the Chinese side returns to Wanderland on March 4, the antics of former coach Marcello Lippi in last season’s quarter-finals still fresh in the memory. Lippi has been replaced by Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro, and it will be interesting to see how the former World Cup winner’s managerial debut kicks off.

Again, there are more Brazilians to deal with here. Western Sydney will be well aware of Elkeson’s threat, as well as the midfield steel of captain Zheng Zhi and defensive solidity of Zhang Linpeng. But there will be new threats in Alan, who was lethal at former club RB Salzburg, scoring 59 goals in 89 games over four seasons, as well as Ricardo Goulart, another fine attacking player. The two new arrivals were signed for €11 million and €15 million respectively.

Seoul FC also boast a larger wage than the Wanderers, and will be out for revenge after defeat in the semi-finals last year. They lost the 2013 final to Guangzhou and will be desperate to end their hoodoo in the competition. Club and national team legend wing back Cha Du-ri will also hang up the boots at the end of the season, so the team will be looking to give him an appropriate send-off.

The Wanderers are up against it, truly. Two sides will be baying for blood while the third is searching to end a trophy drought. A win against Kashima away from home would be a massive boost for the club struggling domestically, but it’s also essential if they are to navigate past this group.

Fixtures
Kashima v WSW (February 25 – Kashima)
WSW v Evergrande (March 4 – Parramatta)
FC Seoul v WSW (March 18 – Seoul)

WSW v Seoul (April 7 – Parramatta)
WSW v Kashima (April 21 – Parramatta)
Evergrande v WSW (May 5 – Tianhe)

Follow Janek on Twitter @JanekSpeight