At 17:00 on August 17th, in the 27th round of the J-League, Kashiwa Reysol will host their old rivals Urawa Reds at Ibaraki Prefectural Stadium.
In the 26th round of the J-League last weekend, Kashiwa Reysol suffered a surprising 1-2 away defeat against a weakened Nagano Parceiro. Despite losing Pekosoto and German Liang, two main strikers, the opponent still managed to penetrate Kashiwa’s defense multiple times with their wing-crossing tactics, causing what was expected to be an easy victory for Kashiwa to turn into an unexpected loss. Regarding this defeat, Kashiwa Reysol’s head coach Popovic said in the post-match interview, “We will analyze the reasons for our lack of vitality today. We tried to stick to our style, but as the weather gets hotter, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain aggressiveness throughout the full 90 minutes.”
Currently in the J-League standings, Kashiwa Reysol are temporarily in second place with 14 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses, just 3 points behind the top-ranked Machida Zelvia. However, they do not have an advantage in goal difference, so even if they win this round, it will be challenging to overtake the lead. In this season’s 13 home games, Kashiwa Reysol achieved 9 wins and 4 draws without a loss, conceding less than 0.8 goals per game on average, demonstrating a robust defense. This can partly be attributed to Popovic’s morale-boosting efforts during home matches. In the previous three home league matches, Kashiwa Reysol only conceded one goal against Sapporo Gonzadoro, FC Tokyo, and Tosu Bird Sand Rock, showcasing the tightness of their defense.
In terms of lineup, it is likely that Kashiwa Reysol’s foreign striker Kavric and second-choice goalkeeper Kajikawa Yuki will still be unable to play in this match. Another attacking foreign player Milosavljevic has already returned from injury in previous league matches but could only come off the bench at the end of the game without making significant contributions. Additionally, attacker Nakama Hayato, who missed the last league match due to poor physical condition, has been confirmed to return to the squad, providing some assistance to Kashiwa’s attack. New summer transfer, Henji Tengawa, can also make his appearance as scheduled.
Urawa Reds performed poorly in the last league match, being held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Tosu Bird Sand Rock. Veteran captain Nishikawa Shusaku received a red card and a penalty in the 79th minute, marking the first time he was sent off in his long career. During the match against Tosu, Nishikawa’s red card was due to a header clearance error by Urawa defender Rikihito Inoue, which led to criticism from some extreme fans after the game. However, Urawa’s head coach Hagemo still praised the team’s performance, “I believe we controlled the rhythm from the start of the match. We are moving in the right direction. If we consider enhancing teamwork, I think we can achieve something good.”
Currently in the J-League standings, Urawa Reds are temporarily in 11th place with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses, trailing the championship group by 12 points, making it almost impossible to secure qualification for next season’s AFC Champions League. In this season’s 12 away games, Urawa Reds have only managed 3 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses, ranking 17th in the league for points acquired away from home, performing worse than Kyoto Phoenix, who are in the relegation zone. However, in the recent three away games, Urawa Reds only conceded one goal from a penalty against Tosu Bird Sand Rock, remaining unpenetrated in the other two matches, showing signs of improvement.
In terms of lineup, only goalkeeper Nishikawa Shusaku will be unavailable for Urawa Reds in this match. It is expected that second-choice goalkeeper Sogawa Ayumi will start in his place. The latter had playing opportunities in all friendly matches during the break and remains relatively stable in form. Additionally, Urawa Reds’ head coach Hagemo discussed the arrangement of midfield players in the squad following the departure of captain Atsuki Ito during the break, suggesting that substitute Anai Kai could be considered as a replacement for Ito.
In the previous 20 encounters between the two teams, Kashiwa Reysol have 9 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses, holding a certain advantage. This round of the league is a double red derby of the J-League. Kashiwa Reysol aim to return to winning ways with the help of home advantage. Can Urawa, without their soul Nishikawa Shusaku, continue to maintain their defensive form and fight for points away from home?
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