On July 20 at 6 PM, Matchday 24 of the J1 League will see Vissel Kobe host Nagoya Grampus at the Mikuni Park Stadium.
In their previous league match, Vissel Kobe were unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw away at bottom-placed Consadole Sapporo. A major defensive lapse in the 39th minute from a free-kick allowed Aoki Raita’s shot to easily find its way into the back of the net through the wall. In the second half, Vissel Kobe managed to level the score through a header from Daiki Nishino but failed to convert their late pressure into goals. If not for Suzuki Gakuto missing a crucial penalty, Kobe would have likely suffered their third away defeat of the season. After the game, Kobe’s head coach, Takayuki Yoshida, expressed his dissatisfaction but also acknowledged the team’s struggles due to injuries.
In the current J1 League standings, Vissel Kobe sit third with a record of 12 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses, trailing second-placed Gamba Osaka by three points but with a better goal difference. This season, in 11 home matches, they have recorded 5 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, a significant drop in form compared to the past two seasons. The main reason is their inability to effectively attack at home, failing to fully utilize strikers Daiki Nishino and Koji Miyoshi despite dominating possession.
For this match, Vissel Kobe will be without the services of full-back Takuto Kiyomoto, defensive midfielder Mi Tsukishita, attacker Taishi Kaneko, and midfielder Haruya Ito. In the previous match, young player Shogo Yamauchi filled in for the absent Haruya Ito in midfield but performed poorly defensively, falling short of Takayuki Yoshida’s expectations.
Nagoya Grampus, on their part, secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Kashiwa Reysol last weekend, ending a run of four consecutive defeats. Against Kashiwa, Nagoya’s head coach, Kenji Hasegawa, started winger Yuki Someya, who had returned after his loan spell, and he repaid the faith with a headed goal from a set-piece to equalize. Speaking about the hard-fought win, Kenji Hasegawa said, “I think Yuki Someya’s presence is very important. He made inspiring comments at halftime, and I believe we now have a very reliable player.”
In the current J1 League table, Nagoya Grampus are eleventh with 9 wins, 3 draws, and 11 losses, currently 8 points clear of the relegation zone. In 11 away matches this season, they have won 5 and lost 6, displaying an open style of play but are currently on a four-match losing streak away from home, failing to score against promoted teams Tokyo Verdy and Machida Zelvia.
For this match, Nagoya Grampus will welcome back starting center-back Kensuke Misao from suspension. However, top scorer Junker, midfielder Ryusei Inui, and full-back Yasushi Ono remain sidelined through injury. Defender Ko Makino made his return from injury in the last match but did not make a notable defensive contribution.
In their previous 20 meetings, Vissel Kobe have a slight edge with 9 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. In this round, Vissel Kobe aim to use their home advantage to return to winning ways. Can Nagoya, who are in improved form, take another win away from a strong opponent?
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