AFC Champions League football returns for matchday three this week, and high-flying Sydney FC are in action.
After Central Coast Mariners’ 3-2 loss to Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port in AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday night, Wednesday sees Sydney face J1 League leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima in AFC Champions League Two.
Star-studded Sydney are two from two in ACL Two, while they earned bragging rights over Western Sydney Wanderers in the opening round of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
BUY TICKETS TO ROUND 2 IN THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE!
Click here to secure your Unite Round tickets TODAY!
Can the Sky Blues make history in Japan?
Sydney FC are two from two to start their ACL Two campaign, but their biggest test awaits in Group E on Wednesday night.
Ufuk Talay’s Sydney make the trip to Japan to face J1 League league leaders and title hopefuls Sanfrecce Hiroshima midweek.
With former Melbourne City star Tolgay Arslan playing a key role, Sanfrecce are a point clear atop the standings in Japan’s top tier.
“He was a very good player last year in the Isuzu UTE A-League,” said winger Joe Lolley when discussing the threat Arslan poses to Sydney FC ahead of the game.
“I know obviously they’re top of the J1 League as well so we’re expecting a very tough test, a very high standard and a quality team so it will be a really good test.
He added: “It will be interesting to see where we’re at and how we’re competing. We’ll go in with our same intensity and desire to win the game.”
The matchup pits two team with perfects records against each other.
Sydney come into the game having disposed of Eastern (5-0) and Kaya FC (4-1) before edging city-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in an opening-round Isuzu UTE A-League Derby.
But the big question is can Sydney get the job done against Japanese opposition? In 14 previous meetings against Japanese clubs in AFC competition, the Sky Blues have never won, losing nine games and drawing on five occasions.
“Really excited to play against one of the top teams in Japan,” Sydney defender Alexandar Popovic told reporters.
“It’s a good opportunity, for not only myself but the team, to make a big impact on Asian football.”
Popovic added: “We want to impress, we want to show who Sydney FC are and stamp some authority in the Champions League.”
This season’s Sky Blues, however, look a formidable thread with the arrival of Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa, along with former Celtic striker Patryk Klimala, ex-Serie A midfielder Leo Sena and Anas Ouahim.
The new faces are helping ease the creative burden on Englishman Joe Lolley.
“I think it takes away the pressure of Joe actually trying to do everything with the ball and without the ball,” Talay told reporters in the aftermath of the Sydney Derby when asked what impact signings such as Costa and Ouahim will have on Lolley’s game.
“We’ve got those players that can hurt you and we still have Joe that’s very influential in what he does.
“I thought he had a great game tonight (Saturday). Probably could have got a couple more if he didn’t slip on that last one in the second half.
“We sat down at the end of last season and thought through and went through the process of what we believe could create a team that could challenge for the title. And that’s the type of players we tried to bring in.”
As for Sanfrecce, they enter the matchup having suffered a surprise 2-1 loss away to Shonan Bellmare.
It snapped their five-game winning streak and six-match unbeaten match across all competitions as the J1 League title race was thrown wide open.
Since joining Sanfrecce from Melbourne City this year, Arslan has scored seven goals in 10 league appearances.
How to watch?
Kick-off to Sydney’s third ACL Two fixture is 9:00pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 23 at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, Japan. You can catch all the action from Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Sydney FC LIVE and FREE on 10 Play.
Match details
Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Sydney FC
Matchday Three – AFC Champions League 2
Wednesday, October 23 2024
Venue: Edion Peace Wing Stadium
Kick Off: 9:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Play
