Opinion | Chinese Super League sides look ahead to AFC Champions League quarter-finals, but first they should take care of business at home
Shanghai SIPG take on South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the last eight of the continental competition, while Shandong Luneng also face K-League opposition in the form of FC Seoul, with the first legs taking place next week
With only one game in the Chinese Super League before continental competition resumes, you can forgive Shanghai SIPG and Shandong Luneng for turning their minds to their impending AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
The first legs take place next week with Shanghai SIPG welcoming Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Shanghai Stadium, while Shandong travel to South Korea to reacquaint themselves with the Seoul World Cup Stadium where they met FC Seoul in the group stage.
Before that, though, there is the small matter of another vital domestic league game for both sides. Shanghai SIPG are in need of a win at home to Shijiazhuang Everbright on Friday night, while Shandong Luneng are away at Tianjin Teda on Saturday evening.
Aside from a win – which would grant Shanghai SIPG a chance to catch-up with city rivals Shanghai Shenhua, who have overtaken them in the AFC Champions League qualifying spots for next season – they need to get game time for both Hulk and Dario Conca before the Korean league leaders come to town.
The Chinese Super League’s record signing has not featured for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side since his goalscoring debut back on July 10th, while Argentine playmaker Conca has not featured since a substitute appearance against Lioaning Whowin that resulted in a recurrence of his leg injury.