Club Leon and Urawa Red Diamonds will commence their Club World Cup campaign on Friday in Jeddah, competing for a spot in the semi-finals, where they could face Brazilian side Fluminense.
Match Preview
Club Leon, making their debut in the 2023 Club World Cup, arrives after winning the CONCACAF Champions League last season.
Despite not clinching a Mexican top-flight title since 2020, they showcased an impressive run in North America’s premier competition.
Urawa Red Diamonds, on the other hand, earned their place in the tournament by winning the AFC Champions League for the third time last year.
Following their success, they faced challenges in both the AFC Champions League and Japan’s top flight before entering this global event.
Team News
Club Leon might adopt a formation similar to their recent Liga MX Apertura second leg against Club America.
Federico Vinas is expected to lead the attack, while Angel Mena and Nicolas Lopez could support in the attacking lineup. The defensive back three might remain unchanged.
Urawa Red Diamonds could field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with options in attack between experienced forwards Jose Kante and Bryan Linssen.
The midfield core is expected to include Ken Iwao, Kaito Yasui, and Marius Hoibraten returning to the center-back position.
Possible Lineups
Club Leon: (3-4-3)
Cota;
Frias, Bellon, Tesillo;
Moreno, Fernandez, Rodriguez, Hernandez;
Mena, Vinas, Lopez
Urawa Red Diamonds: (4-2-3-1)
Nishikawa;
Ogiwara, Scholz, Hoibraten, Ohata;
Iwao, Yasui;
Koizumi, Panya, Schalk;
Linssen
Prediction: Club Leon 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds
Expecting a closely contested match, Club Leon might have a slight advantage due to their squad’s overall quality. We predict a 2-1 victory for Club Leon as they aim for a semi-final clash against Fluminense.
