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Andrew Mullen

Continued success in the AFC Champions League has seen Chinese Super League teams move onto par with rivals from the much-heralded Japanese J-League, according to Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Fifa World Cup-winning Brazilian Scolari returned to Asia over the summer after replacing Italian Fabio Cannavaro as Guangzhou coach, having enjoyed a brief spell in charge of Japan's Jubilo Iwata in 1997.
And ahead of Guangzhou's AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg with Kashiwa Reysol, Scolari feels the Super League has now reached the level of the J-League.
WATCH: Guangzhou Evergrande defeat Kashiwa Reysol in the first leg clash last month 
Japan's J-league has been lauded as Asia's best for the majority of its 22 years in existence.
"I worked in the J-League in 1997, but what I have seen is that Japanese players have good skill and ball control and over the last two decades they have improved," said 66-year-old Scolari, who guided Brazil to Fifa World Cup success in 2002.
"But what the Japanese players have done, the Chinese players are now doing and the league is improving."
Guangzhou Evergrande, the 2013 winners, are out to defend a 3-1 advantage over the Japanese side at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium tonight.
What the Japanese players have done, the Chinese players are now doing and the league is improving
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Guangzhou need to concede three goals to even threaten their return to the semi-finals since becoming the first Chinese side to win the continental title in 23 years in 2013 after posting a dominant win in Japan last month.
And with Scolari's in-form side having not lost in any competition since May after moving to the top of the Chinese Super League with a 3-0 win over Shanghai SIPG on Saturday, which represented a third consecutive win, Kashiwa face a daunting task having lost 8-1 on aggregate to Guangzhou in the 2013 semi-finals.

"In their history, Guangzhou have seldom lost by two goals, which means we have a high probability of winning the game," added Scolari.
Brazilian striker Elkeson, who missed the first leg success due to injury, is set to retain his place having made a scoring return to the side against Shanghai at the weekend.


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AFC Champions League 2015

Chinese Super League just as good as Japan's, says Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari

Guangzhou Evergrande defender Kim Young-gwon (right) and Kashiwa Reysol forward Masato Kudo fight for the ball in their first leg clash in Kashiwa last month. Photo: AFP

Evergrande coach Luiz Scolari and captain Zheng Zhi. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Football

Fifa World Cup-winning Brazilian believes China's domestic competition is improving, which is evident in the success of teams in the AFC Champions League


Continued success in the AFC Champions League has seen Chinese Super League teams move onto par with rivals from the much-heralded Japanese J-League, according to Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
