The AFC Champions League battle resumes as the fixtures for the 2021 season are revealed! Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou in the Chinese Super League big3 do not need a play-off, while Shanghai SIPG will face the winner of the match between Brisbane Lions and Kaya. The group stage system brings together teams in a fierce competition.
Guangzhou have six consecutive matches from June 24 to July 9 against Osaka Sakura/Melbourne Victory, Thai teams, and Hong Kong Jiezhi, with their home ground at Buriram United in Thailand. Beijing Guoan has six consecutive group games from June 26 to July 11 against Union City, Kawasaki Vanguard, and Daegu/Cheongrai United. SIPG, meanwhile, are looking to the June 23 play-offs to try to advance to Group F. The tournament will start on June 26th and end on July 11th.
The Chinese Super League Big3 is facing a season of decision-making, with the 6th to 14th rounds of the league tournament from late June to early August leaving the three teams to weigh their options. The first team has a clear goal to make a full sprint to the Super League and the AFC Cup, while the AFC Champions League has been strategically given up, with practice as the main focus.
Beijing Guoan took the lead after the AFC Champions League schedule was announced. Yang Pu, deputy director of Guoan's youth team, revealed in an interview that Guoan will send its U20 youth team to play in the group stage. In the 2021 National Games, this U20 team is based on Guoan U20. This is the first time for Guoan U20 youth team to participate in the official competition.
Currently, Guoan U20 players are preparing for the U21 tournament and will represent the team in the AFC Champions League. Yang Pu said that when there is a conflict between the National Games and the AFC Champions League, the program will be adjusted according to the epidemic. If the U20 players are unable to participate in the AFC Champions League, the U23 players will replace them; conversely, the U20 players will participate in the National Games. This season's AFC Champions League is destined to be full of challenges and uncertainties.
