Melbourne Victory hosts Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
Summary
Victory has suffered three defeats in Group F, including going down to Guangzhou in China earlier this month.
The encounter begins a big conclusion to the campaign for Victory, which is already guaranteed a third-place finish in the Hyundai A-League.
It goes into the clash on the back of a 1-0 loss to Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Good Friday.
Victory has only managed to score two goals in its three AFC Champions League games so far, those efforts coming through Ola Toivonen and Keisuke Honda.
Toivonen has netted 13 times in 22 games in all competitions in his first season at Victory.
Victory star James Troisi suffered a hamstring injury during the defeat to Adelaide.
After hosting Guangzhou, Victory makes the trip to the Western Sydney Wanderers before the Hyundai A-League Finals Series begins.
Guangzhou has won five of its opening six Chinese Super League (CSL) games of the season, but was beaten by Beijing Renhe earlier this month.
Player in focus
Last time
AFC Champions League 2019 group stage
Guangzhou Evergrande 4-0 Melbourne Victory
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Guangzhou was too good for Victory when the teams met a fortnight ago.
Anderson Talisca’s early brace set up Guangzhou before Yang Liyu’s strike and a Leigh Broxham own goal.
As it stands
Head to head
Group stage, 2019: Guangzhou 4-0 Victory at Tianhe Stadium
Group stage, 2014: Victory 2-0 Guangzhou at Docklands Stadium
Group stage, 2014: Guangzhou 4-2 Victory at Tianhe Stadium
Match details
Melbourne Victory v Guangzhou Evergrande
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
