NEWS

J. League champions Kashima Antlers will start their 2010 AFC Champions League campaign with a home game against Changchun Yatai of China on February 23.

Former Asian champions Gamba Osaka and J. League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale will both play their opening ACL matches in Korea Republic – Gamba at Suwon Bluewings on February 24 and Kawasaki at Seongnam Ilhwa on February 23.
The Emperor’s Cup winners – who will be decided on January 1 – will host Shandong Luneng of China on February 24.
If any of the three Japanese clubs who have already qualified for the ACL – Kashima, Gamba and Kawasaki – win the season-closing Emperor’s Cup, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who finished fourth in the J. League, will take part in the ACL.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16 on May 11/12, which will consist of eight one-off matches. All the other matches except the final will be played in a home-and-away format.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for September 15 and 22, while the semifinals will take place on October 5/6 and October 20. The one-off final will be held on November 12/13.

Group stage fixtures of Japanese teams:
Group E (Kawasaki Frontale)
February  23 – at Seongnam Ilhwa (Korea Republic)
March 9 – vs. Beijing Guoan (China)
March 23 – vs. Melbourne Victory (Australia)
March 31 – at Melbourne Victory
April 14 – vs. Seongnam Ilhwa
April 28 – at Beijing Guoan

Group F (Kashima Antlers)
February 23 – vs. Changchun Yatai (China)
March 9 – at Jeonbuk Hyundai (Korea Republic)
March 24 – vs. Persipra Jayapura (Indonesia)
March 30 – at Persipra Jayapura
April 14 – at Changchun Yatai
April 28 – vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai

Group G (Gamba Osaka)
February 24 – at Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic)
March 10 – vs. Henan Jianye (China)
March 23 – at playoff qualifiers
March 31 – vs. playoff qualifiers
April 13 – vs Suwon Bluewings
April 27 – at Henan Jianye

Group H (Emperor’s Cup winners)
February 24 – vs. Shandong Luneng (China)
March 10 – at Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic)
March 24 – at Adelaide United (Australia)
March 30 – vs. Adelaide United
April 13 – at Shandong Luneng
April 27 – vs. Pohang Steelers