Shanghai SIPG v Jeonbuk Motors: Asian Champions League betting preview and tips

Asian Champions League round of 16 first leg

1pm Wednesday

Shanghai SIPG are the reigning Chinese Super League champions but they struggled to get past the group stage of the Asian Champions League, winning two of six games, and face a tricky round-of-16 tie against South Korean side Jeonbuk Motors, starting with the first leg at Shanghai Stadium.

Brazilians Elkeson, Hulk and Oscar are the star players for Shanghai, who were weakened in January when star striker Wu Lei, scorer of 27 league goals last season, was transferred to Espanyol.

Elkeson has stepped up this term, scoring seven goals in 13 league matches, but Shanghai's reduced firepower may have contributed to a 2-0 defeat at home to title rivals Guangzhou last Friday.

The loss leaves them third in the table and may encourage them to focus more on the Champions League.

They are narrow favourites to secure a first-leg victory over Jeonbuk Motors but it promises to be a tight match against a side with a strong record in the competition.

Jeonbuk Motors won the Champions League in 2006 and 2016 and have impressed this season, finishing top of Group G with 13 points.

They finished six points above Chinese league leaders Beijing Guoan, having defeated them 3-1 on home soil and 1-0 on the road.

And, given Beijing Guoan are five points higher than Shanghai SIPG in China, there is no reason for Jeonbuk Motors to have any fears over their opponents.

Jeonbuk have a decent squad and look especially strong at the back with right-back Lee Yong and left back Kim Jin-Su firmly established in the Korean national team.

They remained top of their domestic league by winning 1-0 at Incheon United on Saturday but may be happy to settle for a draw in Shanghai, setting them up nicely for next Wednesday's second leg.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 23-10 bet365, BoyleSports

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