Domestic Leagues
Join the-AFC.com as we look at what Asia’s finest have been up to as the 2025/26 action takes off in Europe.
England: Mixed fortunes for Tanaka’s Leeds
Newly-promoted Leeds United’s Japan international Ao Tanaka started in his side’s winning return to the English Premier League as they beat Everton 1-0. The midfielder also played 58 minutes in their 5-0 loss to Arsenal in their following match.
Newly-promoted Leeds United’s Japan international Ao Tanaka started in his side’s winning return to the English Premier League as they beat Everton 1-0. The midfielder also played 58 minutes in their 5-0 loss to Arsenal in their following match.
Wolves’ Korea Republic international Hwang Hee-chan came on in the 78th minute as his side fell 1-0 to AFC Bournemouth in what was their second straight league defeat.
Brighton’s Japanese international midfielder Kaoru Mitoma played a full match in their 2-0 loss to Everton.
Scotland: Maeda lends a hand
Japan international Daizen Maeda assisted Celtic’s third goal in their 3-0 win over Livingstone. The Premiership champions debuted Japan’s Hyato Inamura, brought in Japan international Shin Yamada for Maeda in the 58th minute and played Korea Republic international Yang Hyun-jun for 69 minutes.
Japan international Daizen Maeda assisted Celtic’s third goal in their 3-0 win over Livingstone. The Premiership champions debuted Japan’s Hyato Inamura, brought in Japan international Shin Yamada for Maeda in the 58th minute and played Korea Republic international Yang Hyun-jun for 69 minutes.
Livingstone captain and Australian international Ryan McGowan played the full match while his countryman Tete Yengi made his appearance in the 66th minute.
Australian international Cameron Devlin played a full match for Hearts, who came back from three goals down in the final half hour to draw 3-3 with Motherwell, who featured Devlin’s fellow international Apostolos Stamatelopoulos for 69 minutes.
Australia’s international midfielder Keanu Baccus played a full match for St Mirren in their 1-1 draw with Rangers.
Germany: Kim’s Bayern have it easy
Korea Republic international Kim Min-jae assisted Bayern Munich’s fourth goal as the Bundesliga champions started their campaign with a 6-0 win over RB Leipzig. Kim came on in the 68th minute and earned his assist nine minutes later.
Japan international defender Koki Machida’s debut for Hoffenheim in their 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen ended badly when he went down in the 46th minute in what was later confirmed as a torn ACL. The 28-year-old, who celebrated his birthday two days later, will probably be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Eintracht Frankfurt debuted Japan international Ritsu Doan in their 4-1 win over Werder Bremen. The 27-year-old winger was on the pitch for 83 minutes.
Korea Republic international Kim Min-jae assisted Bayern Munich’s fourth goal as the Bundesliga champions started their campaign with a 6-0 win over RB Leipzig. Kim came on in the 68th minute and earned his assist nine minutes later.
Japan international defender Koki Machida’s debut for Hoffenheim in their 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen ended badly when he went down in the 46th minute in what was later confirmed as a torn ACL. The 28-year-old, who celebrated his birthday two days later, will probably be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Eintracht Frankfurt debuted Japan international Ritsu Doan in their 4-1 win over Werder Bremen. The 27-year-old winger was on the pitch for 83 minutes.
Doan’s previous club, SC Freiburg, gave his fellow international Yuito Suzuki his debut in their 3-1 loss to Augsburg. The 23-year-old midfielder played for 70 minutes.
Australian international Connor Metcalfe made his appearance for St Pauli in the 77th minute in their 3-3 draw with Borussia Dortmund.
Mainz 05 started Japan international midfielder Kaishu Sano and Korea Republic’s Lee Jae-sung in their 1-0 loss to Koln, who made a winning return to the Bundesliga.
Indonesia’s international defender Kevin Diks debuted for Borussia M’gladbach in their scoreless draw with Hamburger SV. Diks came on in 77th minute while teammate and Japan international Shuto Machino came on seven minutes before the end of regulation.
Netherlands: Yoon nets his first
Korea Republic U20 international Yoon Do-young came on in the 76th minute and scored Excelsior FC’s only goal, and his first in the Eredivisie, seven minutes later in their 4-1 loss to FC Utrecht.
Korea Republic U20 international Yoon Do-young came on in the 76th minute and scored Excelsior FC’s only goal, and his first in the Eredivisie, seven minutes later in their 4-1 loss to FC Utrecht.
Indonesia international Calvin Verdonk assisted NEC Nijmegen’s second goal in their 3-0 win over Nac Breda. His teammate and Japan international Kodai Sano played the full match while fellow international Koki Ogawa played 71 minutes before being replaced by Japan U19 international Kento Shiogai.
Indonesia’s international defender Dean James played 71 minutes for Go Ahead Eagles in their 3-0 loss to Sparta Rotterdam.
Heracles’ Australian international Ajdin Hrustic made a 61st-minute appearance in their 2-0 loss to Ajax. Hrustic’s fellow international, midfielder Max Balard, played 79 minutes for Breda.
France: Lee’s PSG claims second straight win
Korea Republic international midfielder Lee Kang-in made an 81st-minute appearance for Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 champions defeated Angers SCO 1-0.
Korea Republic international midfielder Lee Kang-in made an 81st-minute appearance for Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 champions defeated Angers SCO 1-0.
Le Havre’s Japan international Ayumu Seko played a full match in their 2-1 loss to Lens.
Nantes sent in Korea Republic international Kwon Hyeok-kyu in the 56th minute and fellow international Hong Hyeon-seok in the 71st in their 1-0 defeat to Strasbourg.
Japan international midfielder Takumi Minamino played 74 minutes for Monaco in their 1-0 loss to Lille.
Italy: Indonesia’s Audero makes winning start
Indonesia’s national goalkeeper Emil Audero made his first appearance for newly-promoted Cremonese as they stunned AC Milan 2-1 to make a winning return to Serie A.
Indonesia’s national goalkeeper Emil Audero made his first appearance for newly-promoted Cremonese as they stunned AC Milan 2-1 to make a winning return to Serie A.
Parma’s Japanese international custodian Zion Suzuki conceded his first goals of the season in their 2-0 loss to Juventus. His teammate and Australia’s international defender Alessandro Circati was in action from the start.
Spain: Garces plays second full match
Malaysian international Facundo Garces played 90 minutes for Deportivo Alavés as his side went down 1-0 to Real Betis. Garces, playing in his second La Liga match, also received his first yellow card of the season in the 78th minute.
Malaysian international Facundo Garces played 90 minutes for Deportivo Alavés as his side went down 1-0 to Real Betis. Garces, playing in his second La Liga match, also received his first yellow card of the season in the 78th minute.
Mallorca’s Japan’s international forward Takuma Asano was in action for 78 minutes in his side’s 1-1 stalemate with Celta Vigo.
Another Japanese international forward, Takefusa Kubo, played a full match in Real Sociedad’s 2-2 stalemate with Espanyol.
Belgium: Sint-Truiden’s Japanese connection wins the day
Japan’s Rihito Yamamoto scored in the 72nd minute and Keisuke Goto in the 81st to steer Sint-Truiden to a 2-0 win over Zulte Waregem.
Japan’s Rihito Yamamoto scored in the 72nd minute and Keisuke Goto in the 81st to steer Sint-Truiden to a 2-0 win over Zulte Waregem.
Japan international Ryotaro Ito assisted Goto’s strike while countrymen Leo Kokubo and Taiga Hata started. Japan international Shogo Taniguchi came on in the 87th minute while compatriot Kaito Matsuzawa replaced Ito one minute into stoppage time.
Saudi Arabia’s international forward Marwan Al Sahafi made his debut for Royal Antwerp in their 2-1 win over Mechelen and was in action for 62 minutes. His teammate and Japan international Yuto Tsunashima played for 52 minutes.
Japan’s Takahiro Akimoto and Takuma Ominami took to the pitch for OH Leuven in their 1-0 win over Dender, who started Indonesia international Ragnar Oratmangoen.
Photos: AFP
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