Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds will host the second leg of the AFC Champions League Final for the 2022-2023 season at the famous Saitama Stadium, Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, after the first leg ends in Riyadh on the 1-1 score.
Historical number
Al-Hilal are looking to consolidate their record by securing the fifth AFC Champions League title, and retaining the title after beating Pohang Steelers in the final of the last edition in 2021.
If won, Al Hilal will be the first Asian club to win the title for 3 consecutive seasons, and they will also reach the No. 5 league, the most in the continent.
ultimate hitches
Al-Hilal loses the effort of striker Salem Al-Dosari, who scored the goal in Saudi Arabia’s historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, after being sent off in the first leg, after scoring Al-Hilal’s goal.
Captain and midfielder Salman Al-Faraj is also expected to be out through injury, but Diaz is confident in his side’s ability to make up for the influential duo’s absence.
He added: “We have a big team and we will face a lot of fans here, but we are used to it.”
Diaz, who lost to Urawa in the 2017 final during his first stint with Al-Hilal, continued: “Our team has experience, and the players have had many similar experiences, and we look forward to win the title.”
The third final between the two rivals
Saturday’s meeting is the third final between Al-Hilal and Urawa, on the throne of Asian football, after the 2017 and 2019 editions.
In 2017: The first leg scenario was repeated for this version, with the two teams tied 1-1 in Riyadh, but Urawa settled the final with a lethal goal in the second leg and won 1-0 in Japan. In 2019: Al-Hilal restored the respect of their fans and dominated both matches, winning 1-0 in Riyadh and 2-0 in Japan.
Lionel Messi case
Al-Hilal’s Saudi coach Ramon Diaz has refused to comment on speculation that his club are trying to sign Lionel Messin, given their aim to face Urawa in the second leg of the League final of the AFC champions on Saturday.
Messi has been linked with a tempting offer to the Asian champion on four occasions after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of the season, and the move comes after Cristiano Ronaldo secured the Saudi victory in last January.
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