- Urawa Red Diamonds and FC Tokyo have faced off 31 times over the past decade or so, with Urawa winning 11, Tokyo 9 and 11 draws. This fixture averages 3.0 goals per game and both teams often find the net.
- FC Tokyo are 2nd in the J1 100 Year Vision League East group with 35 points from 16 games. Urawa are 4th with 24 from 16.
- Urawa are on a run of four wins and one loss (bouncing back from a 2 - 3 loss to Yokohama F·Marinos), while Tokyo have won four of their last five, losing to JEF United Chiba.
Two of Tokyo’s biggest to do battle at Saitama Stadium
Interim boss Tatsuya Tanaka’s appointment on April 28 has sparked a mini-revival in Urawa Red Diamonds, whose players seem to be responding to the shock sacking of Maciej Skorża. The hosts have won their last four games, after losing 2-3 to Yokohama F. Marinos. That 4-1 away win at Mito Hollyhock was a great example of how Urawa can hurt teams with their high tempo, high-pressure style of play.
Urawa are likely to deploy either 4-2-3-1 or three at the back here, allowing Ryōma Watanabe and Matheus Sávio to act as outlets and playmakers from deep, while Ado Onaiwu and Isaac Kiese Thelin do the holding-up and finishing when the ball arrives in the box. This Urawa Red Diamonds vs FC Tokyo prediction will focus on how Tanaka’s Red Diamonds have looked more compact at the back and better on set pieces during this four-game winning run that has moved them to within 11 points of second-placed Tokyo in the J1 100 Year Vision League’s East group.
Rikizo Matsuhashi’s side have won four of their last five with two away wins - 5-2 at Mito and 3-1 at Kashiwa Reysol. They are the team to beat in this game thanks to striker Marcelo Ryan’s prolific form and the creative input of Kein Sato and Keita Endo from midfield and attack. However, the Urawa Red Diamonds vs FC Tokyo preview must also mention that Matsuhashi’s men were shocked 3-0 at home by relegation-threatened JEF United Chiba two weeks ago.
Tokyo’s extra quality and momentum can take them through
With Tokyo in second spot and Urawa in fourth, a win for the visitors would solidify the former’s position in the top-two while a win for the hosts would bring them within eight points of Tokyo, which would do wonders for belief in Tanaka’s squad. According to our Urawa Red Diamonds vs FC Tokyo prediction, Tokyo are the more established of the two teams and the one with more attacking quality, which is why the oddsmakers favour them at 2.48 with Urawa at 2.81 and the draw at 3.2.
We’re going to stay on the sidelines of that market and take ‘Both teams to score - Yes’ at 1.79 because the history of the fixture and the two clubs’ recent form suggests an open and attacking game will be on the cards on Saturday. Moreover, the Urawa Red Diamonds vs FC Tokyo betting tips point to a high-scoring encounter based on the offensive strengths of both teams.
Tokyo build patiently from the back and can hit teams on the counter from a compact, well-organised four at the back, while Urawa press high and try to win the ball in dangerous positions where they can transition quickly with the likes of Watanabe and Sávio. Ultimately, this Urawa Red Diamonds vs FC Tokyo prediction suggests the match will be a close-fought and entertaining contest.
The Saitama Stadium crowd should be up for this Greater Tokyo derby and, with a clear sky overhead, it should be a lively game with enough goals to ensure both clubs are rewarded in the ‘both teams to score’ bet.
