Beijing Guoan Receive Three Setbacks Before AFC Champions League Begins, Making a Winning Start Look Unlikely

At 20:15 Beijing time on September 15, the first round of the new AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone will feature a match that has drawn great attention from Chinese fans, with Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan hosting strong Korean team Pohang Steelers.

Beijing Guoan have had a slow start followed by improvement in the Chinese Super League this season. After 26 rounds, they have recorded 11 wins, 10 draws and 5 losses. After deducting penalty points, they have 38 points and currently sit third in the Chinese Super League standings. Having already fallen 14 points behind league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng, with only four rounds remaining, it means their title hopes have effectively ended early. After failing in the Chinese Super League title race, they naturally hope to make their presence felt in the AFC Champions League. Therefore, they will give their all when they face Korean side Pohang Steelers in the opening round.

In terms of overall strength, Beijing Guoan are clearly at a disadvantage against Pohang Steelers. Even with home advantage this time, their chances of winning are not high. Therefore, Guoan face a very difficult challenge in their first AFC Champions League match. Before the tough battle begins, blogger BJFC-DISPATCH revealed three more setbacks on Weibo: Guoan will be without three key players against Pohang Steelers. They are Zhang Yuning, Cao Yongjing and defender Bai Yang. Zhang Yuning was called up by the national team to participate in the Asian Games, while Cao Yongjing and Bai Yang are suspended for the AFC Champions League.

Zhang Yuning is the core focal point of Beijing Guoan's attack. He has excellent abilities in holding up the ball with his back to goal, aerial duels and finishing in the penalty area. He can also drop deeper to link up the midfield, pull apart the opponent's defensive structure and create attacking space for teammates. He is the team's most reliable scoring and support option. His absence will greatly reduce Guoan's attacking threat and efficiency in the final third.

Cao Yongjing plays as a wide midfielder. He not only has strong stamina and active movement, but is also good at making runs from the wing, cutting inside, finishing near goal and contributing in both attack and defense. He is an important rotation starter in Beijing Guoan's midfield and attack. His absence will inevitably reduce the team's wing penetration and creativity.

Defender Bai Yang is a versatile player in Beijing Guoan's back line, capable of playing multiple positions including center-back and full-back. He is tall, strong in physical duels, reliable in aerial defense, and good at interceptions and building play from the back. He is an important rotation option for the team's defense. His absence will inevitably weaken Guoan's aerial defensive ability and physical strength at the back, reducing the stability of the defense.

Originally, Beijing Guoan had no obvious advantage and faced a small chance of victory against Korean side Pohang Steelers. Now, before the match has even started, they have already suffered these three setbacks. It appears that Beijing Guoan's hopes of securing a winning start in the new AFC Champions League season are very slim.