SEOUL — The Asian Champions League is clearly maturing as a competition as it enters its second decade, with famous players, World Cup-winning coaches and increasingly glamorous clubs in action during the opening round for 2013. When the 32-team, eight-group tournament kicks off this week, most attention will be on a game being billed as the 'Clash of the Asian Super Clubs'. A crowd of 45,0000 is expected at the home of big-spending Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande to watch Marcello Lippi's star-studded squad, including Dario Conca of Argentina and Paraguay's Lucas Barrios, take on Japan's Urawa Reds, the 2007 Asian champion and one of the continent's best-known teams. Guangzhou, which has kept the majority of its domestic title-winning team together, wants to bring the trophy to China for the first time and is aiming to finish in the top two in Group F in order to progress to the second round. After winning the 2007 title, Urawa has been through a rough patch at home but coach Milhailo Petrovic hopes to announce the club's return to the top level in style. While a club from Japan provides the first test for Guangzhou, it is likely that the South Korean challenge will have to be overcome sooner or later. Teams from the K-League have won three of the past four titles and have been Asian champion a record 10 times. Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 champion and 2011 finalist, takes on Thailand's Muangthong United in the group's other game, while in Group E 2012 Chinese Super League runner-up Jiangsu Sainty makes its debut in the competition with a trip to FC Seoul. Seoul is the only one of Korea's four representatives in the 2103 edition without a continental title. Suwon Bluewings is aiming for a third title and is hoping that new signing Jong Tae Se can make a difference. The North Korean international joined the club from Koln in Germany to become the fourth North Korean to play in South Korea's domestic league. Suwon kicks off against Australia's only representative, Central Coast Mariners. Since Adelaide United finished as runner-up in the 2008 tournament, teams from the A-League have struggled in the continental club championship. Gamba Osaka defeated Adelaide in the 2008 final and a Japanese team has failed to reach the final since. In 2012, the J-League had no representation in the quarterfinal stage and is hoping for a better showing this time. On the western side of the draw, Saudi and Iranian clubs have generally been the strongest performers in the Asian league, although Qatar's Al-Sadd won the title in 2011. Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli is expected to go deep into the competition, which has scrapped the heavily criticized one leg final format played at the home of one of the finalists. The Saudis start their campaign at home to Qatari's Al-Gharafa Wednesday with former France striker Djibril Cisse expected to make his bow in the tournament for the visitors. With Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan leading the attack and talented midfielder Omar Abdulrahman turning heads, the UAE champion Al-Ain should cause Saudis Al-Hilal problems in Group D Tuesday. The final, over two legs, will take place in October and November with the winner advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup. — Agencies
