Guangzhou confident to continue unbeaten run in AFC Champions league

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Reigning AFC holders Guangzhou Evergrande of China will face Japan's Emperor's Cup winners Yokohama F.Marinos on Wednesday and Guangzhou are confident to extend their unbeaten run in Japan.

After a shaky start to defend their AFC Champions League crown, Guangzhou Evergrande showed the class of champions as they romped to an impressive 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory in their opening match in Group G.

Meanwhile, Yokohama F. Marinos, playing in the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2005, made an inauspicious start to their campaign against South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as Jeonbuk scored three times in 12 minutes in the second half with a pair of deft finishes by Lee Seung-gi and a penalty by substitute Leonardo.

But Guangzhou's coach Marcello Lippi does not take the three-point for granted as he said the Japanese were never easy to defeat.

"They lost to Jeonbuk 3-0, but the result did not show the quality they produce. Like every Japanese team, Yokohama are well organized and they play technical football. They are a team hard to beat," said Lippi.

Guangzhou's players are confident as they hold a 10-match unbeaten run in Champions League. Their last defeat came in Japan when they lost 3-2 to Urawa Reds in last season's Group stage.