Ahead of Adelaide United’s AFC Champions League group stage encounter with Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka, here are some of the key statistics for the intriguing clash.
The Reds are competing in the tournament for the fifth time and have reached the knockout stages on three occasions.
Adelaide are unbeaten in their previous five home Asian Champions League matches, recording three wins and two draws.
Meanwhile, this year’s edition will be Gamba’s ninth appearance in the competition, a record for a Japanese club, and have qualified for the next round five times.
In the duo’s five previous meetings in all competitions, there has never been a draw. In fact, remarkably both teams have never scored in the same fixture.
Gamba won the first three matches, including a 5-0 aggregate win in the 2008 Champions League Final. However, Adelaide have enjoyed the most recent success, triumphant in their past two clashes as they recorded a pair of 2-0 victories in the 2012 group stage.
That 2008 Champions League triumph was the last Japanese club to lift the trophy and no J1 League side has secured a grand final berth since then.
Gamba, who finished bottom of their group in 2016, are winless in their preceding eight Champions League games (L5, D3).
Adelaide United will host Gamba Osaka in its first AFC Champions League 2017 group stage match on Wednesday, 22 February at Hindmarsh Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.30pm ACDT.
