Champions League preview: Guangzhou v Victory

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Melbourne Victory resumes its AFC Champions League campaign with a trip to Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday.

Summary

Victory has suffered two losses in Group F heading to the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou.

Its two-game winning run was ended last time out, going down to Sydney FC at the SCG on Saturday.

Kosta Barbarouses scored his 50th goal for Victory in the defeat, becoming just the third player to reach that mark for the club.

Keisuke Honda’s pass set up the forward, but Victory fell to a stoppage-time goal from Milos Ninkovic.

Victory, which will be without Terry Antonis after the midfielder’s knee injury against Sydney, is still searching for its first away win in Asia’s elite club competition.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou has won one and lost one of its opening two games in Group F, having gone down to Daegu last month.

Former Benfica attacker Talisca has netted in each of Guangzhou’s first two matches in the AFC Champions League this season.

Victory and Guangzhou were also drawn together in the group stage in 2014, splitting their matches with a win apiece.

Player in focus

Last time

AFC Champions League 2014 group stage
Melbourne Victory 2-0 Guangzhou Evergrande
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

It has been five years since Victory’s upset win over Guangzhou.

An early Mark Milligan goal and late strike from James Troisi saw Victory to a famous win.

As it stands

Head to head

Group stage, 2014: Victory 2-0 Guangzhou at Docklands Stadium
Group stage, 2014: Guangzhou 4-2 Victory at Tianhe Stadium

Match details

Guangzhou Evergrande v Melbourne Victory
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Kick-off: 10.00pm AEST

Watch Wednesday’s match LIVE On Kayo Sports

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