The Oceania champions join a stellar cast in a draw that includes Asia’s Al-Sadd, European giants FC Barcelona, Africa’s Esperance, Club du Futbol Monterrey of Mexico and Brazil’s Santos and the as-yet-unknown J-League winners.
Despite the pomp of the draw ceremony, Tribulietx already knows Auckland will play the winners of the J-League in Toyota City on December 8. It’s the specific identity of those opponents that remains a mystery.
What Tribulietx also knows is that, whoever the opponents, Auckland City will have a game on their hands.
“Whichever J-League team we draw will be very difficult to beat,” the Spaniard says. “But the players are excited – it is a positive excitement – I think it’s healthy.”
Two points separate Kashiwa Reysol, Nagoya Grampus Eight and Gamba Osaka in a three-way chase for the J-League title with three rounds left.
“It will be more difficult this time – it’s the Japanese champions on their own ground. But we’re leaving nothing to chance and we’ll be prepared for the game. We are training every day and have tailored the players programmes to fit with their jobs and study commitments,” Tribulietx says.
“We’re ambitious and believe we’re a good team – we’re going to give it our best effort.”
Auckland City has overcome similar odds before.
Two years ago, a 3-0 loss to Mexico’s Atlante was bookended by a 2-0 win over Al Ahli and a 3-2 triumph against African champs TP Mazembe – a side that finished runners-up to Inter Milan last year.
“What we achieved in Abu Dhabi in 2009 doesn’t happen very often so we must be realistic about our chances,” Tribulietx says. “Any time an amateur team plays a professional side, you are going to have a tough game.”
Should Auckland pull off an upset win, they must then back up for a quarter-final showdown with either Esperance, Al-Sadd or Monterrey, just two days later. And, as the recent Rugby World Cup in New Zealand showed, a short turn around between games for smaller teams can prove an insurmountable obstacle.
Tribulietx believes the one-game-at-a-time philosophy works best.
“We have to concentrate on the first game and worry about the second one if and when it happens. I think everybody is aware the challenge is different this time playing the J-League winners first. There is no pressure to repeat what we did two years ago.”
City are set to play two games before departing for Japan.
On Saturday, they face Hekari United of Papua New Guinea at Kiwitea Street in the O-League before an ASB Premiership clash with YoungHeart Manawatu on Sunday week, also at home.
One player who could be missing from Saturday’s game against Hekari is one-cap All Whites midfielder Chad Coombes, who was injured during the 3-1 win over Waitakere United on Sunday.
“It’s hard to say how long Chad will be missing,” Tribulietx says. “Maybe ten days, we hope it is a lot shorter than that.”
Auckland’s squad has plenty of depth though with another former All White James Pritchett an able replacement while former Glasgow Rangers youngster Andrew Milne has impressed in training.

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