For a man who has played 225 consecutive ties in the J.League — a run that lasted from May 11, 2013 until November 1, 2019 — Nishikawa's view of the AFC Champions League final action at King Saud University Stadium was an unfamiliar one.

It was not from his near ever-present role between the posts, but from a seat in the stands due his one-match suspension.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old took the opportunity to turn the situation to his advantage and analyse the action ahead of the return meeting in Japan.

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.

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.

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.

Al Shalhoub was an unused substitute as Al Hilal narrowly edged their visitors thanks to an Andre Carrillo header in the second half, and the two sides lock horns again in two weeks’ time for the title decider in Saitama.