It is perhaps the stadium, along with Riyadh\u2019s King Fahd Stadium, most synonymous with the modern iteration of the AFC Champions League, so it is only fitting that it – along with Saitama\u2019s second stadium, the Komaba Stadium – plays host to the concluding stages of the East Zone of this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the knockout rounds condensed, and again held in a centralised, COVID-enforced bubble, the advantage very much lies with home side Urawa Reds who come in on the back of some impressive form in the J.League, with just one defeat from their last ten and a 6-0 win against relegation-threatened Jubilo Iwata last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A shock 3-0 loss to Nagoya Grampus aside, the Reds have scored 14 goals and conceded just twice over the past month as they recover from a cripplingly slow start to the season; a season in which they were expected to challenge for the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But while domestic silverware – something that has eluded Urawa since 2006 – is out of reach this season, a third piece of continental silverware is very much there for the taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standing in their way in the Round of 16 is JDT; the darlings of the group stage after their last second heroics against Ulsan Hyundai in their final group stage game. It was one of the most memorable AFC Champions League moments in recent memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While three months has passed since that memorable night at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, JDT will be riding that wave of momentum. With a new coach at the helm, in the form of H\u00e9ctor Bidoglio, who replaced Benjamin Mora after his shock exit last month, they will know they are the underdogs in this encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n