Written by Han Bing. The draw for the 2025/26 AFC Champions League has concluded, and the three strong teams from the Chinese Super League—Shanghai Port, Shanghai Shenhua, and Chengdu Rongcheng—are facing two brand new opponents: the Japanese dark horse Machida Zelvia, who finished third in their first season in the J1 League in 2024; and Gangwon FC, which has only 17 years of history and unexpectedly secured the runner-up position in the K1 League last season. These two dark horse teams from Japan and South Korea are also participating in Asian competitions for the first time and will compete against the three strong teams from the Chinese Super League. Both teams are formidable and unfamiliar, making them the new opponents that the Chinese Super League teams should pay attention to.

The performance of these two opponents in their domestic leagues this season is vastly different: Machida Zelvia continues to excel, currently sitting fourth among 20 teams in the J1 League after 26 rounds, just two points shy of the top; Gangwon FC, on the other hand, is struggling, sitting eighth among 12 teams in the K1 League after 26 rounds, with the possibility of entering the relegation playoff. For the three strong teams from the Chinese Super League, there is a certain chance to gain points in the AFC Champions League from these two first-time participants from Japan and South Korea.

The Japanese dark horse is on a roll.

Although Machida Zelvia was established relatively early, it wasn't until the end of 2008 that they were promoted to the third tier of Japanese football. After the promotion, they changed their name, combining the Portuguese words for the city tree, Zelkova, and the city flower, Salvia, to form the new name Zelvia (also translated as Machida Zelvia). In the season following the name change (2009), Machida Zelvia was promoted to the J2 League, but it wasn't until 14 years later, in 2023, that they ascended to the J1 League as champions of the J2 League.

In 2010, former Japanese national team player Naoki Soma served as the head coach of Machida Zelvia. The club has since hired several well-known coaches, including Popović (Serbia), Adilson (Argentina), and Toyoshi Akita. In 2023, they were coached by Kuroda Takeshi, who has led Aomori Yamada High School to eight championships in the Japanese high school league. Notably, Machida Zelvia has a strong connection to Chinese football, having signed Brazilian foreign player Eric from Changchun Yatai after their promotion from the J2 League, and in September, Edmilson from Wuhan Three Towns also joined the team, helping them successfully ascend to the J1 League.

In 2024, Machida Zelvia started the season with four consecutive wins and at one point led the league for 14 rounds. Had it not been for a four-game winless streak during the final sprint, they could have achieved the "Kaiserslautern miracle" of winning the J1 League immediately after promotion. This season, despite only bringing in foreign player Ravi, the team has maintained strong performance. Although they experienced a tough stretch of one win and five losses in six games, they have since enjoyed a seven-game winning streak. Goalkeeper Tanaka Kosei, mixed-race defender Mochizuki Kai, midfielder Soma Yuki, Hirakawa Yu, and forward Nishimura Takuma have all been selected for the Japanese national team, with Mochizuki Kai, Soma Yuki, Hirakawa Yu, Nishimura Takuma, and South Korean foreign players Roh Sang-ho and Woo Se-hoon participating in this year's East Asian Cup. Additionally, Australian national team forward Duke has previously faced the Chinese national team during the 18-team tournament. For the teams from the Chinese Super League, some players from Machida Zelvia are not unfamiliar.

This summer, Hirakawa Yu joined English Championship side Bristol City, while Machida Zelvia brought in Israeli national team midfielder Ravi from Gamba Osaka, and their strength remains unaffected. The team's attack primarily relies on a trio consisting of Roh Sang-ho (5 goals, 2 assists), Nishimura Takuma (6 goals, 3 assists), and Soma Yuki (8 goals, 6 assists). Center-back Goma Daichi (3 goals, 2 assists) and left-back Hayashi Yukito (3 goals, 1 assist) represent formidable attacking options from the back. Machida Zelvia employs a 3421 formation, where the attack not only relies on the trio but also sees wing-backs supporting the front line to widen the attack.

The three J-League teams participating in the AFC Champions League are currently in similar form, all still in contention for the championship in the J1 League, especially with Machida Zelvia recently achieving seven consecutive victories and an impressive goal difference of 13-0 in their last five matches, showcasing near-perfect offensive and defensive performance. Soma Yuki has been outstanding, contributing 5 goals and 1 assist in the last six matches, averaging one goal involvement per game, making him the biggest threat to the defenses of the three strong teams from the Chinese Super League.

Gangwon FC is struggling.

Gangwon FC was established in 2008 and has only 17 years of history. Gangwon FC also has some connections to Chinese football, with former coaches Kim Sang-ho (Shanghai Shenxin), Kim Heung-bum (Henan Jianye), and Choi Yong-soo (Jiangsu Suning) having coached in China. Kim Ho-young served as an assistant coach to Lee Jang-soo at Guangzhou Evergrande. The current head coach is 45-year-old former South Korean national team player Jeong Byeong-guk, who just took office at the end of last year, succeeding Yoon Jong-hwan, who led the team to its best-ever result (second place in the K1 League).

Gangwon FC is a traditional underdog in the K1 League, having started competing in the K1 League in 2009, finishing last and being relegated in 2013, and returning to the K1 League in 2017. Before last year, Gangwon FC's best result in the K1 League was only sixth place. After unexpectedly finishing as runners-up in the K1 League last year, Gangwon FC lost seven key players at the beginning of this year, including center-back Kim Yong-bin, left-back Yoon Seok-yong, Yoo In-soo, midfielder Hwang Moon-ki, forwards Jeong Han-min, Yang Min-guk, and Australian foreign player Horl, resulting in significant losses. Despite bringing in as many as 25 new players during the winter transfer window, including foreign player Romario from Wuhan Three Towns, left-back Hong Jeong, right-back Kang Jun-hyuk, Lee Yu-hyun, midfielder Yoon Il-rok, Koo Bon-cheol, right winger Kim Min-jun, and Croatian foreign player Kuze, the team remains depleted.

This season, Gangwon FC's attack relies solely on Brazilian striker Gabriel, but he has only scored 4 goals and provided 1 assist after two-thirds of the season. Head coach Jeong Byeong-guk has tried various formations, including 442, 4231, and 433, but to no avail, suffering three consecutive defeats in March and May, and failing to win in their last five matches.

Gangwon FC dismissed foreign player Romario, who was unable to secure a starting position during the summer transfer window, bringing in new players such as Mu Jae-hyun (Gyeongnam FC), Kim Kyun-hee (Sapporo), and forward Kim Shin-jin, yet the situation remains unchanged, and the team has dropped to tenth place, entering the relegation zone.

Among the three teams from the Chinese Super League, Chengdu Rongcheng will host Gangwon FC, while the Shanghai teams will play away. Gangwon FC's performance this season has been characterized by being strong at home but weak on the road; of their current 32 points, they have only earned 15 points at home from 13 matches, while securing 17 points from 13 away matches. However, they have often performed well at home, having recently achieved consecutive victories against top-three teams Ulsan HD, Jeju United, and Daegu FC, and recently drawing with Gimcheon Sangmu. The Shanghai teams should take the time to understand their characteristics.