In a bittersweet twist of fate, China’s top two clubs—Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou Evergrande—drew each other in the quarter-final stage of the AFC Champions League. This means only one Chinese team can make the semis. Winners will face a Japanese side in the next stage of the competition, in the form of either Urawa Red Diamonds or Kawasaki Frontale.
The two currently dominate the Chinese Super League with the Guangzhou side leading by two points, and how the season ends for both teams rests on their head-to-head clashes.
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Both clubs met in the Chinese Super League back in April, with Luis Felipe Scolari's Evergrande edging out Andre Villa-Boas’ SIPG 3-2. They are set to meet domestically again in July before the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on August 22.
Guangzhou Evergrande became continental champions in 2013 under Marcello Lippi, and again in 2015 led by Big Phil Scolari. Shanghai SIPG looks to catch up to their China rivals this season with big money signings, most notably by pulling in former Chelsea midfielder Oscar.
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