In 16 previous finals, history shows that the team that loses the first leg tends not to be crowned champions. Only Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad have managed the feat and that was back in 2004.

That does not, however, mean there haven’t been some classic encounters over the years and the-AFC.com has picked out five to whet your appetite ahead of Sunday’s game at Saitama Stadium.

While some have been away on international duty, others have remained with their club sides and have enjoyed some free time, with trips abroad, music gigs and pet play all featuring in the-AFC.com's latest social wrap.

With the international break to take centre stage over the next week before the return meeting at Saitama Stadium on November 24, the-AFC.com looks back at the facts and figures that caught the eye at Riyadh's King Saud University Stadium.

Photos: Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds

That leaves the showpiece event perfectly poised ahead of the return meeting at Saitama Stadium on November 24 and both teams seem relatively happy with the scoreline. Here's what those involved had to say.

In a repeat of the 2017 final which Urawa won 2-1 on aggregate after drawing the first leg 1-1 in the Saudi capital, it was Al Hilal who controlled the vast majority of the game, recording 22 shots to the J.League club’s two.

But Al Hilal only have one goal to show for their dominance, with Andre Carrillo’s 60th-minute header the only time the visiting defence was breached as the 1-0 scoreline leaves the contest intriguingly balanced ahead of the return meeting at Saitama Stadium on November 24.

Al Hilal dominated Saturday's first leg at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh but had to settle for a 1-0 win, thanks to André Carrillo's 60th minute header.

The advantage could have been wider but a combination of missed chances and great defending by Urawa meant Al Hilal will only take a slim lead to Saitama.

Kuala Lumpur: Mohammed Al Burayk has been named as the Toyota Player of the Week for the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League final after the full-back put in a standout display in Al Hilal’s 1-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds at Riyadh’s King Saud University Stadium.

Appearing in his second final in three years, Al Burayk delivered a perfect cross for Andre Carrillo to head home the only goal of the game on the hour mark as the hosts ensured they will start the second leg in Saitama with a slender advantage.

Al Burayk, who was also the Toyota Player of the Week for the second leg of the final two years ago, created two chances for his teammates and made 61 successful passes.

The Saudi Arabia international scored a rating of 8.2 and the clean sheet means, unlike in 2017, they travel to Japan without having conceded an away goal.

Peruvian Andre Carrillo (below) came next on the list after the his goal proved the difference between the two sides, although he can also point to a stellar all-round performance.