BEIJING (China): Yan Junling is doubtful ahead of Shanghai SIPG’s return to the 2020 AFC Champions League next month after the China international goalkeeper underwent surgery on an eye injury sustained in the on-going Chinese Super League playoffs.
The 2018 Chinese Super League champions announced that the 29-year-old had been examined by experts two days after sustaining the injury in the first half of his side’s 0-0 draw with Shanghai Shenhua in the first leg of the playoff quarterfinals on Sunday.
The AFC Champions League (East) will be held in Doha after an agreement was reached between the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) early this month.
The AFC Champions League (East), which will be played between November 18 and December 13, follows the successful completion of the AFC Champions League (West) in Qatar.
SIPG said Yan would be sidelined for “a long time” as a result of the surgery, but he will almost certainly miss the remainder of the Chinese Super League playoffs while his involvement in the 2020 AFC Champions League, which resumes on November 18, is also in doubt.
Shanghai are in Group H of the 2020 AFC Champions League, where they will face Japanese champions Yokohama F Marinos, two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and reigning A-League champions Sydney FC.
Doha will also host the 2020 AFC Champions League final on December 19. (Source: AFC)
