Wanderers relishing clash with old foes

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Reigning champions Western Sydney Wanderers are looking forward to renewing rivalries with Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League.

Wanderers became the first Australian side to lift the trophy when they defeated Al Hilal 1-0 on aggregate in the final last month.

Having defeated 2013 champions Evergrande on away goals at the quarter-final stage, the A-League outfit were paired with the CSL side in Thursday's draw.

The two clubs will compete in Group H, along with the third-placed side in Japan's J-League and whe winner of play-off one (east).

Wanderers representative Christian Layland is expecting another closely fought encounter when the two sides meet again, after their last-eight clash back in August ended 2-2 on aggregate.

"We had a great battle with Guangzhou last year, a big match in Parramatta Stadium and an exciting one in China and we look forward to continuing what could become a very healthy Asian rivalry between the two clubs," he said.

"Although we dealt with all the logistics of travelling around Asia very well last year, with experience you get a little bit better, so we'll certainly draw from everything we learnt from last time and put that into place in this year's competition.

"We have a very high standard of expectation within the club. We set those standards high last year, we expected to do well last year and wanted to be champions. And this year is no different: we want to repeat that performance."

Last year's beaten finalists Al Hilal were put into Group C, along with Foolad Khuzestan, Lokomotiv and the winner of play-off four (west).

Group G: Brisbane Roar, Japan's second-placed team, Suwon Bluewings, winner of play-off four (east).

Group H: Guangzhou Evergrande, Western Sydney Wanderers, Japan's third-placed team, winner of play-off one (east).