Four-time Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande will face Kashiwa Reysol of Japan in the AFC Champions League quarterfinals, according to the draw held in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
As the first Chinese team to win the AFC Champions League in 2013, Guangzhou Evergrande failed to defend the title last year after going out in the quarterfinals to Western Sydney Wanderers on away goals.
As the 2013 semifinalist, Kashiwa Reysol has seen a strong finish to the 2014 J-League season as the fourth place after winning its last seven games.
Liu Yongzhuo, person in charge of the Guangzhou Evergrande club, said that this year marks the start of the club's second five-year plan with the target of becoming the world's top 20 team, and it is very important for them to win the champions of both the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League.
He said that the team's new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is one of the best all over the world, who, he believes, can lead the whole team to fight for the champion of the AFC Champions League this year.
Following is the draw of other quarterfinalists:
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) vs Lekhwiya (Qatar)
Naft Tehran (Iran) vs Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) vs Gamba Osaka (Japan).
