AFC Champions League Preview: Ulsan, Pohang, Gwangju, Jeonbuk all return to action | OneFootball

Even before the 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 season begins, K League's continental contenders will take to the field in the AFC's Champions League competitions. Pohang Steelers face a tricky home fixture with J.League giants Kawasaki Frontale, surprise package Gwangju FC are away to Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan, and K League champions Ulsan HD are away to Thai giants Buriram United in the AFC Champions League Elite, before Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors head to the Thai capital to face Port FC in AFC Champions League Two.

AFC Champions League Elite

Matchday 7 of 8

Tuesday 11th February

Pohang Steelers vs. Kawasaki Frontale - 19:00 KST

Pohang's Matchday 6 win over Vissel Kobe has given Park Tae-ha's side hopes of progressing to the knockouts, sitting on nine points in fifth place but just two points above ninth. The 2024 Korea Cup winners return to action in 2025 for the visit of J.League giants Kawasaki Frontale, a side that sits directly above them in the table and three points better off. Pohang's form in the competition has been hit and miss, alternating between wins and losses over the first six matches. Kawasaki have won their last three on the bounce and will also take to the field for the first time in a competitive match in 2025 when taking on the Steelers.

There are likely to be a lot of shots in Tuesday's game as the two teams rank highly for attempts on goal. Pohang are fifth among teams from the East side of the competition with 73, and Kawasaki sixth with 72. Pohang have been much more accurate, though, with 39.7% finding the target the fourth-best among teams from the East. Kawasaki's Brazilian star Erison ranks third for touches in the box per 90 at 7.2, while Pohang's Jorge Teixeira is third for headed shots with four. There could be a debut for Juninho Rocha as Park Tae-ha reshuffles his starting lineup following some key departures, such as winger Jeong Jae-hee.

Tuesday's meeting is the first between the two clubs since 2009 when Pohang earned an away win and a home draw in the Group Stage. Pohang have a good recent record against J.League clubs with just two defeats and six wins over the last 10 encounters. For Frontale against K League sides, it's four wins, three draws, and three losses.

Shandong Taishan vs. Gwangju FC - 21:00 KST

Gwangju FC will be looking to pick up where they left off in ACLE having surprised many with their hot start to life in continental competition. Gwangju won four, drew one, and lost just once in their opening six matches to sit joint top of the league on 13 points, six clear of ninth. A win on Tuesday would seal a place in the Round of 16. Yokohama F. Marinos may be the top scorers, but Gwangju have the best shooting accuracy in the whole competition at 46.3%, with Jasir Asani leading all players from the East with 66.67%.

They take on a Shandong Taishan side that has work to do to qualify for the next phase, sitting 10th but just a point behind Buriram in eighth. Shandong have won just once twice in the competition this season, both at home, including their first which came against a Central Coast Mariners outfit that's earned just one point from six games. But they are among the more trigger-happy teams in the competition, though, with 87 total shots the fifth-most - third among teams from the East. Accuracy lets them down with 34.5% only enough for them to rank 10th in that regard.

Shandong's home form is very good with just two losses in their last 19 matches in all competitions but suffered back-to-back home losses in the ACL this season, both to Japanese opposition. The match will be seen as a must-win for Shandong, a side with some familiar faces - former Ulsan duo Vako Qazaishvili and Leonardo as well as former Pohang striker Zeca.

Gwangju will take confidence in the wins over arguably bigger clubs than Shandong already this season, as well as fellow Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, and picked up a very credible 1-1 draw away to Shanghai Port in their last ACL outing. Shandong don't have the best of records against K League opposition, managing five wins, five draws, and losing 13.

Wednesday 12th February

Buriram United vs. Ulsan HD - 21:00 KST

Ulsan HD have a fair bit of work to do if they are to qualify for the next phase of the competition. The Horangi sit second-bottom following just one win and five losses and are five points adrift of the top eight. Simply put, Kim Pan-gon's side must win their last two matches and hope that teams above them slip up. Buriram United, then, the side that currently occupies eighth place, are the perfect opposition with Wednesday's clash something of a six-pointer.

The Horangi will need to start turning possession into points, though. Ulsan have racked up 59.8% possession, the highest among all teams in the East while their 14.3 passes per minute of possession is the fifth-highest. They have the highest total of progressive passes in the whole competition, too, with 522 and the fourth-highest number of touches in the box, but their xG is a meager 5.95 - the ninth lowest.

Buriram, who have recently signed centre back Ko Myeong-seok from Daegu FC, have two wins to their name in the current competition. One came over Ulsan's East Coast Derby rivals Pohang, and Central Coast Mariners. It has been three ACL matches without a win since, though, and the Thai giants have a less-than-ideal record against K League sides in the Champions League - five wins, four draws, and nine losses. However, Buriram are going great guns in the league and even put eight past Chiangrai United and then nine past Khonkaen United in mid-January.

In the immediate build-up to Wednesday's clash, which will be the first-ever between Buriram United and Ulsan HD, Buriram went on a run of four wins in five league matches but lost to Port last time out.

AFC Champions League Two

Round of 16, Leg 1

Thursday 13th February

Port FC vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors - 21:00

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' reward for finishing top of Group H is a tie with the runners-up of Group F, Port FC of Thailand. Bangkok-based Port won three of their six group stage games and only finished second on account of an inferior goal difference to Lion City Sailors. Jeonbuk won four matches and lost two, scoring 16 goals in the process for a +12 goal difference. But the Green Warriors will be heading into Thursday's clash with one eye on the opening day of the K League 1 season three days later, and having not played since the playoff second leg against Seoul E-Land. Port's Thai League 1 season is around halfway through and will be the much fresher team. In fact, Port beat league leaders Buriram United 1-0 in their last-but-one league outing and followed that up with a 4-0 win over Chonburi in the cup.

Port have a couple of familiar faces, with former Ansan Greeners and Jeonnam Dragons wingback Asnawi Mangkualam in their ranks, as well as former Daejeon and Busan striker Peniel Mlapa. It's also a team with Thai international stars such as Suphanan Bureerat, Chalermsak Aukkee, Teerasak Poeiphimai, and Worachit Kanitsribampen who were all involved in the War Elephants' run to the ASEAN Championship final, as well as Singaporean star Irfan Fandi.

There'll be question marks over which Jeonbuk squad is sent to the Thai capital with the new K League season so close. Jeonbuk sent a young squad to take on Muangthong United as qualification had already been secured but were turned over 1-0. The trip to Bangkok will be Gus Poyet's first match in charge of Jeonbuk, and spoke atMedia Day about the selection dilemma he has. A win, though, would do the Green Warriors the world of good heading into the home clash with Gimcheon on February 16th.