The 2021 AFC Champions League fixture list has finally been revealed, with the Chinese Super League big3's campaign about to kick off on June 23 with a play-off against the group stage. It is worth mentioning that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou are exempted from the play-offs, while Shanghai Hong Kong will have to face the winner of the match between Brisbane Lions and Kaya. The group stage of the AFC Champions League is said to be based on a conference system, with each group facing each other in one place.
Guangzhou will face six consecutive group matches from June 24 to July 9 against Osaka Cherry Blossoms/Melbourne Victory, Thai Port, and Jie Zhi in Thailand's Buriram United, while Beijing Guoan will face six consecutive group matches from June 26 to July 11 against Union City, Kawasaki Frontale, and Daegu/Chiang Rai United. SIPG is eager to advance to Group F by emerging from a June 23 playoff. This tournament will kick off on June 26th and end on July 11th.
Given that the Chinese Super League will play its 6th to 14th rounds from late June to early August, the Chinese Super League BIG3 had to make a choice. First of all, they have to give up their first team, including Guangzhou, Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Hong Kong's goals for the season and even the new season. The goal of the three teams is very clear, that is, to go all out to fight for the title in the double line of the Chinese Super League and the FA Cup, because these two seasons will not conflict with each other, and the AFC Champions League will be strategically given up to practice.
Beijing Guoan took the lead after the AFC Champions League schedule was announced. Yang Pu, deputy director of Guoan's youth training team, revealed in an interview that Guoan will send a U20 youth team to participate in the AFC Champions League group stage. In the 2021 National Games, this U20 team is also based on Guoan U20. It is worth mentioning that this is also the first time for the Beijing U20 youth team to participate in an official match.
Currently, Beijing Guoan's U20 players are preparing for the U21 competition and will represent Guoan in the AFC Champions League. Yang Pu said that there are other options to deal with the relationship between the National Games and the AFC Champions League. If the epidemic causes the U20 players to be unable to participate in the AFC Champions League, then the U23 players will participate in the AFC Champions League and the U20 players will participate in the National Games. This also means that this season's AFC Champions League is destined to be "chicken ribs".
