Urawa Red Diamonds will face off against Pohang Steelers in the Group Stage of the Asian Champions League on October 24, with the game set to commence at 10:00 UTC.
Seven years after a Group Stage encounter that concluded in a 1-1 stalemate, Urawa Red Diamonds, also known as Urawa or Urawa Reds, and Pohang Steelers, often called FC Pohang Steelers or simply Pohang, are set to cross paths again. Currently, Urawa Red Diamonds are on a winning spree, having clinched victories against Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama F. Marinos. They aim to prolong this streak by defeating Pohang Steelers. Moreover, their recent home games have showcased strong defensive performances, as evidenced by three back-to-back clean sheets.
On the other hand, Pohang Steelers come into this match after a drawn game against Incheon United just last week. The team has been struggling defensively, having conceded goals in three successive games, adding mental strain on the players.
Recent Form
Urawa Red Diamonds have been performing admirably, securing wins against Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama F. Marinos in their last two fixtures. In a broader view, they have 11 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws in their last 20 games. Meanwhile, Pohang Steelers have a record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 8 draws in their previous 20 matches.
In their last six matches, Urawa Red Diamonds emerged victorious 4 times (with wins against Kashiwa Reysol on October 20, Yokohama F. Marinos on October 15, FC Ha Noi on October 4, and Gamba Osaka on September 24), faced a single defeat (against Yokohama F. Marinos on October 11), and had one game end in a draw (against Yokohama FC on September 29).
As for Pohang Steelers, their recent six-match history shows two wins (over Wuhan Three Towns on October 4 and FC Ha Noi on September 20), one loss (to Suwon Bluewings on October 8), and three draws (against Incheon United on October 20, Ulsan on September 30, and Daegu FC on September 24).
Team News
Urawa Red Diamonds
Manager Maciej Skorża has the luxury of a fully fit squad to pick from, with no injury concerns plaguing the team ahead of the clash.
Pohang Steelers
Manager Gi-dong Kim faces selection constraints due to limited player availability. Players like Jae-hee Jeong, who has a hamstring injury, and Oberdan, with an unspecified injury, are not available for selection.
Head-to-Head
Since March 2016, Urawa Red Diamonds and Pohang Steelers have squared off twice. Out of those meetings, one ended in a draw and Pohang Steelers claimed one victory. Their latest face-off was in the Group Stage of the Asian Champions League on May 3, 2016, and it ended in a 1-1 tie. In total, Urawa Red Diamonds have netted one goal in these head-to-head encounters, while Pohang Steelers have scored twice.