Beijing Guoan vs Kawasaki Frontale

Beijing Guoan and Kawasaki Frontale are set to exchange tackles at the Lokomotiv Stadium in an exciting AFC Champions League Group I encounter.

Beijing bounced back from a 1-0 half-time deficit to clinch a 1-1 away draw against United City in their Group I opener, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to three matches (W2, D1). Indeed, the hosts have enjoyed a dramatic upturn in form heading into this encounter, having gone from three straight defeats to three consecutive matches without losing. Notably, though, since the start of 2020, the ‘Imperial Guards’ have succumbed to just two losses in their 18 home games across various competitions (W13, D3, L2), winning the last two without conceding. Yet, there’s been a shortage of goals in their recent competitive home games as each of their previous three home fixtures featured under 2.5 total goals following a goalless half-time.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki recovered from an early deficit to beat Daegu 3-2 at home in their Group I curtain-raiser, with each of their three strikes coming between the 40th minute and the hour mark. As a result, the visitors stretched their unbeaten record in 2020 to 26 games in all competitions (W20, D6 – 90 minutes only) despite keeping a clean sheet in five of their last six competitive outings. Since losing 1-0 to domestic rivals Oita Trinita in November 2020, Toru Oniki’s men have gone undefeated in their subsequent 11 road trips in all competitions (W7, D4), scoring 2+ goals on eight occasions in that run. Still, an early action seems to be off the table, considering none of Kawasaki’s last three away fixtures saw an opener scored within the opening half an hour of play.