Kitchee vs Cerezo Osaka

Kitchee and Cerezo Osaka go head-to-head at the Chang Arena in their final AFC Champions League group stage fixture.

Since going down 2-1 to Cerezo Osaka on Matchday 2, Kitchee have racked up a three-game unbeaten Champions League run (W2, D2) to progress into the knock-outs with a game to spare. The hosts’ hopes of winning will hinge on their ability to keep a clean sheet, with each of their three group stage victories seeing them shut out the opposition. Low scoring has been a common theme in Kitchee’s Champions League matches this season, as four of their five Group J fixtures have featured under 2.5 total goals. Since being held to a 1-1 draw to domestic rivals Eastern AA in mid-March, the ‘Bluewaves’ have either won or lost each of their subsequent seven home games in all competitions (W6, L1), with five of those results seeing the victor keep a blank sheet.

On the other hand, the visitors have won four of their five group stage matches, barring a 1-1 draw with Port on Matchday 3, and they will finish top of the section if they avoid defeat here. Ahead of the kick-off, the Japanese heavyweights have claimed back-to-back Group J victories by an aggregate scoreline of 8-0, winning all four halves ‘to nil.’ Cerezo Osaka’s notable upturn in form has witnessed them go from six consecutive road trips without a victory (D3, L3) to two straight away triumphs, both of which saw them prevail by over 1.5 goals ‘to nil.’ Yet, before securing a 3-0 win over Port in their most recent trip, each of their previous seven away fixtures had contained under 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a tight, low-scoring affair.