Korean clubs with all to play for in Asian Champions

It is a big week for Korean clubs in the 2018 Asian Champions League as the penultimate round of games in the group stage approaches.

The country has four representatives all aiming to finish in the top two of their four-team groups to move to the round of 16. Three could do just that on Tuesday and Wednesday with the right results while the other is fighting to keep its hopes alive.

2006 and 2016 continental champion Jeonbuk Motors is in the best position and at the top of Group E. The K-League title-holder has won three of the first four games and will move into the next round even with a tie at Kashiwa Reysol on Wednesday.

Even if the Jeonju-based team loses in Japan, it will still be looking good. Whatever happens, a win against Kitchee of Hong Kong at home in the final round of the games will be enough.

That should happen. After all, Jeonbuk won 6-0 in Hong Kong in March and is in good form generally, even if the defense has been a little generous of late.

Suwon Bluewings are also sitting reasonably pretty in second place in Group H and four points clear of third.

The two-time continental champion takes on Sydney FC at the Big Bird. A win against the Australians will secure a spot in the next stage.

Sydney is struggling with just two points from the first four games. When the two met down under in February, Suwon was an easy 2-0 winner.

Ulsan Horangi also hosts Australian opposition as Melbourne Victory come to the southeastern city. The teams played an entertaining 3-3 draw earlier in the group and now both have five points and are fighting for second spot behind runaway leader Shanghai SIPG.

A tie would still leave Ulsan in the driver’s seat, but it would all come down to the final game. Better to win at home and secure a place in the next stage with a game to spare.

And then there is Jeju United. The islanders actually progressed past the group stage in 2017, narrowly losing to eventual champion Urawa Reds. That makes the poor results so far this year all the more disappointing.

Jeju is in last place in Group G with just one win in four games. But there is hope — due to the way other results have gone, Jeju will go through if it can win both remaining games.

That makes this week’s trip to Japan crucial. If Jeju can defeat Cerezo Osaka — a big if — then United may well end the week in second place in the group.

It is possible. Jeju lost to Cerezo at home in February due to a last-minute goal. Despite that defeat, the Koreans had chances to win that game and were astonished to leave the field with nothing to show.

It should be a tight and exciting contest in Kansai on Tuesday. It should be an exciting week all round.