At the end of November, Shandong Taishan's AFC Champions League campaign comes to a critical fifth round, hosting Kaya. According to Qilu Evening News, Taishan will make sure to beat their opponents in this matchup.
On the night of the 25th, the Taishan team assembled in a hurry and rushed to Jinan to prepare for the AFC Champions League. Moises, Jadson and Fernando are all qualified for the AFC Cup final and have been a highlight of the team. Facing Kaya, Taishan may make lineup adjustments to give young players a chance to showcase their talents. It is worth mentioning that Fellaini's status is doubtful, he did not return to Jinan with the team after the match on the 25th, and will probably take a break in this game.
For Taishan, a win is definitely the way to go in this battle. With three points in this match, even if Yokohama Mariners fail to win in the final round, Taishan will still have a good chance to lock up a place in the qualifying round. Currently, both teams have nine points, with Yokohama Mariners at the top of the group, followed by Taishan. According to the tournament system, among the five groups in the East Asia Region, the first group with the highest points and the third group with the best results will advance to the knockout rounds. Taishan is already in the second group with the highest points, and the initiative to qualify is firmly in their hands. If they can beat Kaya, the points will climb to 12 and they are expected to be the team to advance to the knockout stage in the Super League. The sooner the team locks up their qualification, the better it will be for their preparation.
It is worth mentioning that the Taishan team may organize a farewell ceremony for Moises before this game to express their gratitude to the meritorious foreign aid.
