Ulssan vs Shanghai Port: A Battle for the Top of the AFC Champions League
Ulssan Hyundai and Shanghai Port are set to face off in the final of the AFC Champions League on Saturday, December 5, 2021. The match will be played at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.
Both teams have had impressive runs in the tournament thus far. Ulssan Hyundai finished top of Group F, before defeating Kawasaki Frontale and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the knockout rounds. Shanghai Port, meanwhile, topped Group C and then overcame Cerezo Osaka and FC Tokyo in the latter stages of the competition.
The final is expected to be a close encounter between two well-matched teams. Ulssan Hyundai will be looking to win their second AFC Champions League title, having previously triumphed in 2020, while Shanghai Port will be aiming to lift the trophy for the first time.
Here is a closer look at the two teams:
Ulssan Hyundai
Ulssan Hyundai are the current K League 1 champions, having won the title in 2020. They are also the most successful club in the history of the AFC Champions League, having won the competition twice (2012, 2020).
Ulssan Hyundai’s squad is packed with quality, including the likes of Brazilian midfielder Junior Negrao, South Korean striker Lee Dong-jun, and Japanese defender Kim Young-gwon. They are also well-coached by Hong Myung-bo, who was a member of the South Korea squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Shanghai Port
Shanghai Port are the current Chinese Super League champions, having won the title in 2018 and 2021. They are also one of the most successful clubs in the history of Chinese football, having won the Chinese Super League 5 times and the Chinese FA Cup 3 times.
Shanghai Port’s squad includes a number of high-profile players, such as Brazilian midfielder Oscar, Colombian striker Juan Fernando Quintero, and Japanese defender Sho Sasaki. They are coached by Ivan Leko, who has previously managed clubs in Belgium, Croatia, and Russia.
Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have met once before in the AFC Champions League, with the match finishing 2-2 in 2020.
Prediction
This is a tough match to call, but I think Ulssan Hyundai will just edge it. They have more experience in the AFC Champions League and they have a slightly better squad on paper.
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Please search for “ulsan vs shanghai port” which is rapidly rising on Google Trends SG and explain in detail. Answers should be in English.
101