Adelaide United has been drawn into a tough group for its return to the Asian Champions League, being cast into Group H with oil-rich Chinese club Jiangsu Suning and South Korean giants Jeonbuk Motors.

The group will also feature a team from the pending play-offs.

Jiangsu Suning currently sits second in the Chinese Super League, having spent big during the last two transfer periods to import global superstars to the club.

On the books at Jiangsu are Ramires and Alex Teixeira, who came from Chelsea and Shakhtar Donest respectively. Additionally, Socceroos’ centre back Trent Sainsbury is at the club.

Jeonbuk Motors FC, from Jeonju in South Korea, is the reigning champion of the competition, having defeated Al-Ain in the final less than a month ago.

Its charge to defend its crown will be led by a duo of Brazilians, with Leonardo on the wing and Ricardo Lopes playing in a number 11 role.

How Adelaide United attempts to take on these clubs is a challenge not yet face by head coach Gui Amor. His tendency to opt for open, attacking football is unable to stand up in the A-League at present, so it’s hardly likely to work against much bigger clubs with much better players.

But if Amor and his Reds hold any hope of progressing past the group stage, standing up is must. Expect the A-League Champions to demonstrate a more conservative brand of football which focuses on counter attacking moves in order to score.

Based on current form, expectations from Adelaide United’s fans will be low and having found their club in the toughest group of the competition many a fan would have resigned their club to an early exit.

In order to stave off that likely outcome the Reds will be looking towards experienced campaigners Eugene Galekovic and Marcelo Carrusca to step up and lead the young side. However an inability to string two good performances together since being crowned Champions of Australia will leave the club’s officials wondering if a decent chance at Asian glory is still a pipe dream.

It’s up to Amor and his squad to prove the pundits wrong, but based on current form and the group of death into which they’ve been drawn, United will be hoping for more than one Christmas miracle ahead of the opening round in February.