AFC Champions League Elite: Chengdu Rongcheng Host Johor DT in Crucial East Region Clash
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite group stage features a pivotal East Region clash as Chengdu Rongcheng hosts Malaysian powerhouse Johor DT at Phoenix Hill Football Stadium. Both teams are currently struggling in the league stage standings, making this encounter critical for their knockout stage aspirations. This match holds immense importance for both sides. [12, 18, 27]
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
The AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) is Asia's premier club football competition, adopting a new league stage format for the 2025-26 season. It features 24 teams divided into East and West regions, with each of the 12 teams in a region playing eight matches (four home, four away) against different opponents. The top eight teams from each regional league stage advance to the Round of 16. [7, 15] Chengdu Rongcheng, making their debut in the ACL Elite, successfully qualified through the play-offs. They currently sit in sixth place in the East Region with 3 points from two matches (one win, one loss), having scored two goals and conceded two. [3, 12, 16, 18, 27] Their journey so far includes a 1-2 defeat to Ulsan HD and a 1-0 victory over Gangwon FC. [3] Johor DT is also competing in this season's ACL Elite and is currently in tenth place in the East Region with 1 point from two matches (one draw, one loss), having scored one goal and conceded two, facing significant pressure to qualify. [12, 18, 21, 23, 27] Their results include a 0-0 draw against Machida Zelvia and a 1-2 loss to Buriram United. [12, 25, 28] This direct confrontation between Chengdu Rongcheng and Johor DT is crucial for both teams' aspirations to secure a top-eight spot and advance to the knockout stage.
Recent Form
Chengdu Rongcheng has shown solid form recently, securing three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five official matches: a 3-1 victory over Meizhou Hakka in the CSL [15], a 1-0 win against Gangwon FC in the ACL Elite [3], and two draws (3-3 vs. Zhejiang Greentown [10], 1-1 vs. Shanghai Shenhua [10]). Their sole defeat was a narrow 1-2 loss to Ulsan HD in the ACL Elite. [3, 10]
Johor DT also enters this match in strong form, having secured four wins and one draw in their last five outings. This includes victories in the Malaysia FA Cup against Penang [25], a dominant 7-0 win over PDRM FC in the Malaysia Super League [25], a 5-3 FA Cup win against Damansara [25], and a 4-0 triumph over Bangkok United in the ASEAN Club Championship [25]. Their only non-winning result was a 0-0 draw against Machida Zelvia in the ACL Elite. [12, 25]
Key Players & Injury News
Key players for Chengdu Rongcheng include Tim Chow, who scored the winning goal in their recent ACL Elite match against Gangwon FC, alongside Felipe Sousa, Wei Shihao, Romulo, and Yahav Gurfinkel. [3, 16, 29, 32] There are no confirmed significant new injuries for Chengdu Rongcheng; defender Hu Hetao, previously injured, appears to have returned to action recently. [32]
Johor DT boasts several influential players, including João Figueiredo, Bergson, Arif Aiman, and recent high-profile signings like Roque Mesa and Jonathan Viera. [12, 13, 17, 19, 27, 34, 35] However, the team is dealing with significant injury concerns: defender Syahmi Safari is reportedly out for the season due to an ACL injury [4, 5, 8, 10, 22], and Roque Mesa is also sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury. [24]