As Urawa Red Diamonds attempt to overhaul a 1-0 deficit against Al Hilal at Saitama Stadium on Sunday, we wind the clock back to 2006, when tournament debutants Al Karamah of Syria made it all the way to the showpiece event.

Then, after losing the first leg away from home against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the Blue Eagles were part of one of the most memorable second-leg match-ups the tournament has ever seen.

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 opponents Al Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League in its early stages, Urawa are dangerously near the J.League’s drop zone with just two games to play and, should domestic results go against them on Saturday, the Saitama side could go into the second leg looking worryingly over their shoulders.

With just over two weeks left of the Reds' season, the-AFC.com looks at what will be a crucial few games in the history of one of Japan’s biggest clubs.

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

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.

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.