On September 1st at 1 PM, in the 29th round of the J1 League, Sapporo Goshado will host Kawasaki Frontale. Notably, this match is one of the few in this round of the J1 League that will not be affected by a typhoon, with the weather in Sapporo expected to be partly cloudy after clear skies.
In the 28th round of the J1 League played last weekend, Sapporo Goshado secured an away victory against Omiya Ardija with a score of 2-0. Before the game, the team lost two key offensive players, Yuya Asano and Ryota Hasegawa, but the returning Yuki Kondo and Ryohta Aoki continued their goal-scoring form, and foreign player Bakayoko also made a substitute appearance in the second half, adding pressure. Regarding this hard-fought victory, Sapporo coach Petkovic said in the post-match interview: “Our current situation requires us to win every game. This game was more difficult than we anticipated, but I believe the team showed bravery and aggressiveness from the start, and I think we can feel the strong passion of the team this round.”
Currently in the J1 League standings, Sapporo Goshado temporarily stands at 5 wins, 7 draws, and 16 losses, ranking 20th in the league and still at the bottom of the table. They are 10 points away from escaping the relegation zone, and with 10 rounds remaining in the league, they need to make a great effort to catch up. However, in the last three rounds of the league, Sapporo Goshado has taken 7 points against direct or indirect relegation rivals Fukuoka Hokusoh, Tosu Sand Rock, and Omiya Ardija, significantly strengthening their attacking ability after the summer transfer window and now showing considerable competitiveness.
In terms of squad composition, Sapporo Goshado’s main defensive player Haruto Maekawa will be suspended for accumulating yellow cards in this match. The two attackers who missed the last game, Yuya Asano and Ryota Hasegawa, cannot return to the starting lineup quickly either, and South Korean center forward Kwon Kyun-hee is also on the injury list.
Kawasaki Frontale suffered a 1-3 defeat at home to Yokohama Marinos in the last round of the league. Although the broadcaster of this league match made a grand display of the phrase “a clash between two former champions,” Kawasaki Frontale did not show any strength matching their previous dynasty, instead revealing numerous defensive flaws and a significant drop in their ability to seize opportunities offensively. Regarding this crushing defeat without any resistance, Kawasaki Frontale coach Tatsuya Enomoto said: “I think if we cannot perform decisively when we have chances, the game will turn out like this. I think we created many opportunities, but apart from lacking goal-scoring ability, conceding goals consecutively is also a big problem that I have been emphasizing for a long time.”
Currently in the J1 League standings, Kawasaki Frontale stands at 8 wins, 10 draws, and 9 losses, ranking 14th in the league, with a 15-point advantage over the top three teams and only a 6-point gap from the relegation zone. It is likely that they will have to confirm theoretical relegation safety only at the end of the season. In this season’s 13 away games, Kawasaki Frontale has achieved a record of 3 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses, with their point-gathering ability ranking only 16th in the league, similar to that of relegation zone teams. However, in the last two away games, Kawasaki Frontale won against Kashiwa Reysol and FC Tokyo, showing a slight improvement.
In terms of squad composition, Kawasaki Frontale will continue to lose the help of central defender Yusuke Maruyama and Jesse in this match, but the team’s Colombian central defender Cesar Heida is currently ready to play. Additionally, Kawasaki midfielder Shuto Seko, who was confirmed to be leaving the team in mid-month, has officially joined Stoke City, while Kawasaki Frontale’s new summer signing Kento Ono is expected to make his debut this round.
In the past 20 encounters between the two teams, Kawasaki Frontale has a dominant record of 12 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. In this round of the league, Sapporo Goshado aims to continue progressing further in its fight against relegation. Will the Kawasaki Frontale, eager to get back on track, be able to secure all three points smoothly in this tough away game?
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