One of Asia’s most successful clubs of the past decade, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors is aiming for a second AFC Champions League title in 2016.
Jeonbuk conquered Asia in 2006, beating Syrian side Al-Karamah 3-2 on aggregate in the Final to clinch its first continental crown.
Since then, the club has won four K-League titles and missed the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League just once since 2009.
Led by manager Choi Kang-hee and captain Lee Dong-gook, Jeonbuk secured a second straight K-League title last year.
The club is currently second on the 2016 K-League table, three points behind FC Seoul with a game in hand.
In Asia’s premier club competition, Jeonbuk topped an arduous Group G in which the top three teams were separated by just a single point.
Veteran striker Lee made five appearances in the group stage, scoring three goals, while Brazilian trio Leonardo, Luiz Henrique and Ricardo Lopes also proved a handful.
Leonardo, who joined Jeonbuk in 2012, has established himself as a genuine star of the K-League, while fellow attackers Luiz and Lopes add further flair up front.
Melbourne Victory and Jeonbuk last met in the 2014 AFC Champions League group stage, with a 2-2 draw in Melbourne followed by a 0-0 draw in South Korea.
The scoreless draw, played on Match Day 6, was marred by a disallowed penalty to Kosta Barbarouses in the dying stages, with the result cruelly denying Victory a place in the Round of 16 at Jeonbuk’s expense.
Victory will host Jeonbuk in the first leg of its Round of 16 tie at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday, May 17.
The return leg will be played a week later at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in South Korea.
Tickets for Victory’s AFC Champiopns League Round of 16 home game are available by clicking here.
