Gamba Osaka received a rude welcome back to the Asian Champions League as the Japanese treble winners were dealt a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Guangzhou R&F in their start to the campaign on Tuesday.
The 2008 champions, back in the ACL for the first time in three years, fell behind early when Abderrazzaq Hamedallah struck on the break and conceded a late second, Wang Song's free kick finding the net off the Gamba wall.
In South Korea, Kashiwa Reysol took a point off Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a Group E 0-0 draw after qualifying for the competition via the playoff last week.