Urawa Red Diamonds vs Lee Man Prediction and Betting Tips | August 22, 2023

Urawa Red Diamonds entertain Lee Man at the Saitama Stadium 2002 in the AFC Champions League playoff round on Tuesday (August 22).

The Red Diamonds are kicking off their international cup season. They had a bye to the playoffs and did not play the preliminary round. The Japanese giants are seeking a fourth title in the competition, having won their third accolade in the AFC Champions League last season.

Akai Akuma humbled Nagoya 1-0 in the J1 League on Friday to end a four-game winless run across competitions. They will look to maintain that momentum as they meet Lee Man for the first time. The hosts will also take confidence from their recent record of 11 home games without a defeat.

Lee Man, meanwhile, began their campaign in the preliminary round, crushing Indonesian side Bali United 5-1 to progress to this stage. The visitors are playing their third season in the AFC Champions League. Last year, they made it past the playoffs to reach the group stage – their best continental record so far.

They finished second in the Hong Kong Premier League last season. They lost 2-0 to Southern FC in the Sapling Cup in May. It was the only game they played in the offseason ahead of their continental campaign. Lee Man have lost once in five away games.

Urawa's top three scorers at the 2022-23 AFC Champions League have departed. However, the tournament’s MVP Hiroki Sakai is still in their books and could help galvanize the squad.

Lee Man, meanwhile, have kept most of their top players despite transfer speculation. Brazilian duo Everton Camargo and Gil were among the domestic league’s top scorers last season.

Urawa are the favourites to win the clash based on their superior form and home advantage.

Prediction: Urawa 3-1 Lee Man

Tip 1: