With the 2019 AFC Asian Cup taking place in early January, the Champions League draw was held earlier than usual and as the K League 1, J1 League and Chinese Super League seasons are not yet finished, there was an incomplete look to Groups E through H.
But there is just enough opposition for the video analysts at Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory to get stuck into over the next few days.
SYDNEY FC
Shanghai SIPG:
Introduction: One of the glamour clubs of Asian football with the salaries of stars such as Hulk and Oscar alone outdoing the Sydney squad.
Derided a little in China for being something of a plastic team that have only really come into prominence in the last few years, Shanghai not only have money, they have continental ambitions.
Winning a first Chinese title in November was the first step and with that now in the bag, attention is turning to Asia. Guangzhou is the only team from the Middle Kingdom to be crowned Asian champions. Shanghai want to be the second.
Star Players: Hulk and Oscar take the headlines, as well as a fair proportion of the salaries, but there is also Wu Lei.
His sometime label of the ‘Chinese Maradona’ that appears in the western media may be ridiculous but his achievements are not.
To be the leading goalscorer in the 2018 Super League by six goals is some feat given the striking talent that has been imported.
Wu is the one genuine Chinese star of the team and he has been linked with moves to one of the many Chinese-backed European clubs in Europe with Wolverhampton Wanderers being most mentioned.
Kawasaki Frontale:
Introduction: Kawasaki’s home stadium is one of those old English-style grounds, where you hear it before you see it as you walk with increasing speed down a maze of narrow streets. Then it is there, strangely shaped but oddly attractive.
It is hardly intimidating however and until recently there were concerns as to whether Kawasaki had what it took to actually win a title. That all changed with J1 League championships in 2017 and 2018 coming to the city south of Tokyo.
Kawasaki have underachieved in Asia and finished bottom of a group containing Melbourne Victory last season.
That was not a true reflection of the talents in the team and the club have suggested this time that the balance between domestic and continental commitments will be re-evaluated this season.
Star Player: There are some veterans at the club. Kengo Nakamura is 38 but still going strong in midfield. A little younger at 32 is striker Yu Kobayashi who has become more prolific as he ages.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Guangzhou Evergrande:
Introduction: None needed for Australian fans with the South China Tigers crossing swords with Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory over the years.
The Cantonese club have not always performed well against opposition from down under and once the chairman angrily denied suggestions that Guangzhou are scared of Aussie opposition.
He was probably right as the haughty confidence often found in the club does not allow such feelings.
That self-belief may be a little dented at the moment as the Southern Reds are having to deal with the fact that they are not champions of China for the first time since the start of this decade.
There will be pressure on coach Fabio Cannavaro to do better next year.
Star Player: Paulinho is one of the best-ever imports into Asian football and, at times, in his first spell was excellent. Since returning from Barcelona he has still been pretty good.
NEWCASTLE JETS
The play-off route has not been kind to Australia in recent seasons but the Jets will be confident of getting past the first hurdle.
That will either come in the shape of, wait for it, a yet to be determined Indonesian team or Home United of Singapore.
Then comes a Japanese play-off with the possibility that it could be defending champions Kashima Antlers.
