The AFC Champions League (ACL) has the first match of the knockout stage, the first leg of the last 16, on 19 and 20 May 2015. Kashiwa Reysol and Gamba Osaka, both of who got through the group stage atop, fight the first leg on the road.

Kashiwa's opponents on 19th are Suwon Samsung FC from Korea Republic.
Under head coach Seo Jung Won, ex-Korean international striker who appeared in two FIFA World Cups, Suwon finished the Group G battles with three wins, one loss and two draws and advanced to the last 16 at second place following Beijing Guoan (CHN), who passed through atop. Suwon conceded the top place to Beijing only due to the head-to-head result between two teams after finishing with the same points.

The Korean side have won the last two matches in their domestic K League Classic and maintained their form with six wins, three losses and two draws after the matchday 11 held on 16 and 17 May.

Seo Jung Jin has scored three goals and Leo scored two goals in the past six ACL matches while former Korean international Yeom Ki Hun marked six goals in the K League so far, tying the league most.

Suwon have some players with a deep understanding of Japanese football such as Korea DPR international forward Chong Tese, who flourished at Kawasaki Frontale and Germany's Bochum, and forward Caio, who used to play for Cerezo Osaka and Yokohama FC.

Kashiwa outplayed Suwon in the last clashes at the group stage of the 2013 ALC campaign. Suwon, however, did not lose at home in this year's ALC with two wins and one draw as they grabbed two wins over Urawa Reds. It is no doubt to say that Suwon are a tough opposition for Kashiwa.

Kashiwa drew their last match without scoring a single goal against Shonan Bellmare at home in the J1 League on 15 May. Although Kashiwa changed their starting lineup with an eye to the away Suwon contest scheduled in the following week, they have not recorded any goal, much less any win, in the last three J1 League matches. But midfielder Taketomi Kosuke and forward KUDO Masato scored three goals in the five ACL matches this season. Defender WAKO Naoki also keeps in form, and forwards Leandro and Cristiano are expected to give good performances.

Taketomi says "We have a chance to score away goals in the knockout stage. We'll take a closer look at the opponents and get well-prepared. And hopefully we can get a win in (the total) 180 minutes (of the two matches)."
Kashiwa head coach Yoshida Tatsuma says "We learned from our past experience that it's not easy to get points on the road. Luck may determine the outcome, but we'll have the best possible preparation to get something back home. Not to let them play good football, we'll try to play as probing a breakthrough.

Gamba against FC Seoul

Gamba Osaka face FC Seoul on 20th.
FC Seoul have displayed their presence in Asia as the Korean side reached the last 8 in all four ACL appearances and, after former J.League star Choi Yong Soo taking over the head coach duty in 2011, capped the last 8 in 2011 followed by runners-up in 2013 and the last 4 in 2014.

With the 3-2 victory over Kashima on 5 May in the last fixture of the group stage, FC Seoul passed through the Group H for the last 16 spot at second place withtwo wins, one loss and three draws.

FC Seoul moved up to seventh with back-to-back wins in the current K League Classic as they have no loss in the last seven straight official matches including the FA Cup and the ACL after the K League Classic loss against Suwon on 18 April.

While Spanish defender Osmar Barba misses the next match because of cumulative yellow cards, the team have Korean international defender Cha Du Ri, former Jubilo Iwata and Ventforet Kofu defender Kim Jin Kyu and forward Jung Jo Gook, who scored two goals in the group stage and have experience in playing on the national team. Colombian midfielder Mauricio Molina is a fifth-year veteran in his team and snatched an added-time winner after seeing action in the second half of the Kashima match on the group’s last matchday. 

On the other hand, Gamba Osaka drew with Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 league on 16th but did not lose the last three matches after the victory over Seongnam FC in the last matchday of the ACL group stage.
Seoul boss Choi also does not lower his guard, saying "Gamba have been getting a boost in the J.League."

With midfielder Omori Kotaro back in the squad after suspension due to cumulative yellow cards and defender Yonekura Koki making a comeback from injury, midfielder Endo Yasuhito, who renewed the ACL appearance record as a Japanese player, has been back in form and takes a pivotal role in the midfield along with midfielder Konno Yasuyuki. Forward Usami Takashi is in good shape scoring 10 goals in the eleven J1 matches and two goals in the last two ACL matches.

Usami shows his enthusiasm, saying '"It's an honour to play against the team deserving for the knockout stage. With a careful analysis of the opponents, we hopefully show what we have. We will try hard for the Asian Champions."

Endo says "The stages from now on is do or die. You need such kind of strong mindset. The players with past ACL experience need to lead the team at the forefront. We'll score goals on the road and put up a good result so that we can play the second match in our favour.

The past matchups between them were one win and one loss in the group stage of the 2009 tournament.

Both matches between Suwon Samsung FC and Kashiwa Reysol on 19th and between FC Seoul and Gamba Osaka on 20th are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. (local time).

AFC Champions League 2015

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