Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold prepares to welcome Asian opposition to 'Fortress Allianz' as he looks to shake up the ACL following Sydney's extension A-League lead to 12 points after another 4-0 win on the weekend. 

Unfortunately one of Sydney FC's favourite sons Mat Jurman will take no part in the match after getting injured in the lead up to the Champions League opener.

Suwon's Champions League history 

The closest Suwon has ever gotten to Champions League glory was the 2011 Asian Champions League campaign in which they reached the semi-finals and were knoecked out by Al-Saad. 

However, the club were rather successful at the turn of the century in continental competition, winning the Asian Club Championships in 2001 and 2002. In their last two campaigns in the champions league they have fallen at the first hurdle, finishing third in the group stage.

Suwon qualified through the playoffs, defeating Vietnamese side Thanh Hoa 5-1. 

Heavy Hitters 

Kwang-Seon Kwak 

The 31-year old centre-back reached 100 games for Suwon only a few weeks ago and was a stalwart alongside Mat Jurman in central defence last season. Kwak towers over his teammates at nearly 1.9 metres tall and is a mastermind in proactive and premptive defending. 

A winner in the air and cunning along the ground, Kwak was a mainstay in a tremendous K-League season where Suwon had the third best defensive record, conceding 41 goals in 38 games.

Dejan Damjanovic

A-League fans and especially Western Sydney Wanderers fans will be familiar with this name, after he scored a brace against them in Campbelltown last Champions League campaign. Damjanovic is a name synonymous with Korean football thanks to his goal scoring records with FC Seoul where he scored 118 goals in 191 games. 

Although he is 36 years of age, Suwon have pulled off a coup signing the veteran striker on a free transfer and with his enormous stature and powerful left boot, he is a major threat to any team he plays against.

Yeom ki-hun

The proclaimed 'Creator in Chief' and Suwon captian Yeom ki-Hun is a legend of the side at 34 years of age. A tricky left winger, Yeom has racked up 183 appearances for Suwon, scoring 43 and assisting 45. Despite getting knocked out of the group, Yeom accumulated six goal contributions in six group stage matches last campaign.

Yeom has performed at the highest levels of international football as well earning 51 caps for his country and starring in all four of South Korea's matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

Playing Style 

Suwon coach, Seo Jung-Won is in charge of the Bluewings for his fifth season and has wowed his crowds with exceptional attacking play. Spectators will immediately see Seo's team play very direct with crosses into their new target man Damjanovic or long passes along the ground for wingers in behind. 

In terms of defending, Seo likes his team to sit back and trusts his defenders to snuff out danger before launching rapid counter-attacks with wingers and full-backs piercing the final third.

Strengths 

Suwon are extremely effective on the counter-attack. With a target man and hold up player like Damjanovic, supporting prolific wingers like Yeom Ki-Hun and creative players like Sang Hyeob-Im can be very dangerous. 

Despite Sydney's eases in defending this season, top Asian opponents like Suwon will find ways to penetrate the Sky Blues. Dejan Damjanovic's hold up play and Suwon's crossing game will be a serious test for Sydney FC. 

Weaknesses 

We all know how dangerous it is to give Sydney FC's front four the space to pull the strings. This is the root of Suwon's defensive evil. The Bluewings in the last few seasons have made a habit of stepping back a yard and allowing too much space in an effort to fight on the counter-attack. 

If Sydney are on their game, Suwon will have made a deal with the devil allowing players like Milos Ninkovic and Adrian Mierzejewski the room to pave ways in behind. 

Sydney FC face Suwon Bluewings on Wednesday the 14th February at Allianz Stadium at 7:30PM AEDT.