On March 6, at 6:00 p.m. Beijing time, the first key match of the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League will be played, and Shandong Luneng Taishan, a team that is highly regarded by Chinese fans, will meet the challenge of Japan's Yokohama Mariners at their home stadium.
The first two rounds of the AFC Champions League knockout rounds are a fight to the death, especially against a powerhouse like Yokohama Marinos, where home field advantage is crucial. If Shandong Luneng lose at home, the chances of winning on the road in Japan will be slim.
Yokohama Marinos and Shandong Luneng have a complicated history, having met four times in the AFC Champions League, with a record of two wins and two losses, making it difficult to distinguish between the two sides. However, Shandong Luneng failed to win their last two matches, so the team will have to be on high alert in the upcoming quarterfinals.
Despite Shandong Luneng's recent form, with two consecutive victories in the AFC Champions League and Chinese Super League, and their impressive performance in the AFC Champions League, Yokohama Mariners are no slouches. Especially after the departure of the team's core foreign aid Moises, local player Li Yuanyi has gradually become the core of the team's midfield.
Li Yuanyi's performance at Evergrande was not outstanding, but as he grew older, his technical and tactical level improved significantly. He not only has excellent blocking and stealing ability, but also has outstanding ball control skills. Under the leadership of Li Yuanyi, Shandong Luneng's midfield control and attacking efficiency in front of the field have been greatly improved.
According to the data, in the first seven games of the AFC Champions League, Li Yuanyi contributed one goal and one assist for Luneng, whose efficiency in front of the attack is comparable to that of foreign aid. Therefore, in the upcoming match against Yokohama Marinos, Li Yuanyi's performance will be a key factor in determining the trend of the game.
To summarize, the match between Shandong Luneng and Yokohama Marinos will depend on many factors, but the performance of Li Yuanyi, a late-blooming local midfielder, will undoubtedly be the key to the outcome of the match. Let's look forward to the final result of this exciting matchup.
