On Saturday, May 6, Urawa Red Diamonds host Al Hilal at the Saitama Stadium for the second leg of the AFC Champions League final. After competing in the finals of the AFC Champions League in 2017 and 2019, this will be the third time that the two teams will battle it out. Al Hilal, who defeated Pohang in the championship game last year, is the defending champion.
The final is well-balanced, as the first leg between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw in Riyadh last week. Salem Al Dawsari, a star player from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, gave the Saudi Arabian team the lead in the 13th minute, and Shinzo Koroki made it even for the visitors eight minutes into the second half. When Dawsari received a red card in the 86th minute, he went from zero to hero, preventing him from going to Japan.
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Match Details :
- Urawa Red Diamonds – Al Hilal Riyadh
- AFC Champions League Asia
- Date – 06/05/2023
- Starting time – 09:00 UTC
- Venue: Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Prediction :
Al Hilal are trying to protect its Heroes Association title, yet their undertaking was made more earnestly following Salem Al Dawsari’s red card a week ago. In their quest for a third AFC Champions League title, Urawa, on the other hand, will rely on the support of their home crowd.
After losing at the last hurdle last season, the Japanese team will also be seeking revenge. Another close encounter is likely given the history of both teams. The riches could be shared, with punishments expected to choose the challenge.
Prediction: Urawa 1-1 Al Hilal (Al Hilal to win on penalties)
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Head to Head :
The different sides have met multiple times, including their first-leg conflict the week before. Urawa has won once, while Al Hilal has two victories. The two teams also competed in the finals in 2019 and 2017, with Al Hilal winning and Urawa Reds winning. Urawa is looking for their third continental title, while Al Hilal is aiming for a record-extending fifth Champions League title.
In all competitions, Urawa is unbeaten in 12 games. Five of their last six competitive games have ended in draws for the Red Devils. In the five games that have gone head-to-head, there have been fewer than three goals. Al Hilal’s last five away games have seen somewhere around one group neglect to score.
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Team news :
After the first leg, Uwara head coach Skorza will need to look at his players’ fitness, but the home team hasn’t reported any new injuries at this point. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the same starting lineup from the first leg plays the game in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Koroki in the final third.
Takahiro Sekine ought to work off the left for the home side, while there ought to likewise be going after jobs for Yoshio Koizumi and Tomoaki Okubo. Regarding Al-Hilal, Al Dawsari will be suspended for Saturday’s match due to the red card he received during the second leg’s final stages.
The absence of the 31-year-old is likely to allow Abdullah Otayf to start, but if that doesn’t happen, it might be the same team that started the game last time. Odion Ighalo, 33, has scored 20 goals in 28 games this season, and Michael and Moussa Marega should be back in the final third of the field with him.
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Betting Tips :
- The performance of AL Hilal (KSA) over the past five matches is superior to that of Urawa Red Diamonds.
- In the AFC Champions League, neither team has won its previous match.
- Their last gathering was a draw (1-1).
- AL Hilal (KSA) wins 50% of halftimes, while Urawa Red Diamonds wins 36%.
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Lineups :
Urawa Red Diamonds:
- Nishikawa (GK);
- Sakai, Scholz, Hoibraten, Akimoto;
- Ito, Iwao;
- Okubo, Koizumi, Sekine;
- Koroki
Al-Hilal:
- Al Muaiouf (GK);
- Abdulhamid, Hyun-Soo, Al Bulayhi, Al Burayk;
- Kanno, Al Faraj, Otayf;
- Marega, Ighalo, Michael
Urawa Reds vs Al-Hilal Where to Watch :
| Country | Channels |
| United Kingdom | BoxNation |
| Germany | DAZN, DAZN2 |
| United States | Fox Soccer Plus, ViX |
| France | Molotov, Free, L’Equipe, L’Equipe Web |
| Nepal | SONY TEN 3 HD, Sony LIV, SONY TEN 3 |
| India | JioTV, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 3, Sony LIV |
| Sri Lanka | Sony LIV, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 3 HD |