It’s going to be a big year at Saitama Stadium 2002, where Urawa Reds are aiming not just to have a great Meiji Yasuda J1 League season, but also to win the AFC Champions League. What’s in store for the Reds in 2023?

Last season

Urawa were the kings of the draw in 2023, playing to a stalemate an astounding 15 times. They had an 11-match winless streak, but nine of them ended in draws so the Reds didn’t have any trouble getting results. It was notching wins that presented some problems.

Even so, Urawa finished in ninth place thanks to an attack that scored the fourth-most goals in the league. That attack was even better in the AFC Champions League, where they scored 31 in nine matches to make the final.

Goal for 2023

The final of the AFC Champions League is still to be played so all eyes will be on the two-legged affair beginning on April 29. They’ve already been crowned champions of Asia more than any other Meiji Yasuda J.League club and could take home a third continental crown in the coming months.

Meanwhile domestically, there’s reason to believe Urawa could leap into the title race. They were stupendously unlucky in 2022 and with a bit of better fortune to go along with some improvement, the Reds could be right at the top.

What to watch for

There is some change at Saitama Stadium 2002, with Maciej Skorża taking over as manager. Marius Höibraten has also been brought in to man the center of defense. Toss in the departure of Kasper Junker to Nagoya Grampus and Urawa will be dealing with quite a bit of turnover.

How quickly the Reds coalesce quickly under Skorża, whether Höibraten slides in capably next to Alexander Scholz and if they can get capable striker play will determine Urawa’s fate this season. If things go smoothly, this could be a special season in Saitama.