The much-awaited knock-out stages of the AFC Champions League will finally kick off this weekend as Beijing Guoan lock horns with FC Tokyo at the Education City Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have enjoyed excellent campaigns so far and have a point to prove in this game.
FC Tokyo finished behind Ulsan in their group and managed only 10 points in their six group games. The Japanese giants edged Perth Glory by a narrow 1-0 margin in their previous game and will have to take it up a notch this weekend.
Beijing Guoan, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their AFC Champions League campaign and hold a slight upper hand going into this game. The Chinese team picked up an astonishing 16 points from their six group games and are in excellent form at the moment.
Beijing Guoan vs FC Tokyo Head-to-Head
FC Tokyo have an excellent record against Beijing Guoan and have scored four goals in two games against their Chinese opponents. Beijing Guoan have never defeated FC Tokyo in an official fixture and will want to make history on Sunday.
The previous meeting between the two teams took place in 2012 and ended in a resounding 3-0 victory for FC Tokyo. Beijing Guoan have improved over the last few years and will want to prove a point in this game.
Beijing Guoan form guide: D-L-W-W-W
FC Tokyo form guide: W-L-W-L-D
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Beijing Guoan vs FC Tokyo Team News
Beijing Guoan
Cheng Piao is currently recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture and is also unavailable for this game. Star forward Cedric Bakambu has joined his national team and has been omitted from the squad.
Injuries: Cheng Piao
Doubtful: None
Suspensions: None
Not Available: Cedric Bakambu
FC Tokyo
FC Tokyo have a fully-fit squad going into this game and need to be at their best against a strong Beijing Guoan outfit. The Japanese side is unlikely to make drastic changes to its starting combination this weekend.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Not Available: None
Beijing Guoan vs FC Tokyo Predicted XI
Beijing Guoan Predicted XI (4-3-3): Hou Sen; Taiyan Jin, Yu Yang, Kim Min-Jae, Wang Gang; Zhang Xizhe, Li Ke, Fernando; Jonathan Viera, Renato Augusto, Alan Carvalho
FC Tokyo Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Go Hatano; Ryoya Ogawa, Joan Oumari, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Hotaka Nakamura; Shuto Abe, Masato Morishige; Leandro, Takuya Uchida, Hirotaka Mita; Kensuke Nagai
Beijing Guoan vs FC Tokyo Prediction
Beijing Guoan have been excellent in the AFC Champions League so far and will want to build on their excellent run with a victory in this fixture. With the likes of Renato Augusto and Alan Carvalho in their ranks, the Chinese side has built an impressive squad this season.
FC Tokyo have not enjoyed the most comfortable of group campaigns this season and need to take it up a notch on Sunday. The history of this fixture might give FC Tokyo the upper hand but the momentum rests with Beijing Guoan.
Prediction: Beijing Guoan 2-1 FC Tokyo
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