Albert
·
10d
My Prediction
Urawa Red Diamonds by 1Urawa Red Diamonds are the hosts in this bout, facing off against Cerezo Osaka, a squad known for their ability to scrap. Scrutinizing the goalkeepers for Urawa, it's worth noting the service of Shusaku Nishikawa with his 7.17 rating and 14 saves. Ayumi Niekawa, the reliable second option, has been effective too with a 6.90 rating and 6 saves. Cerezo Osaka is relying heavily on Koki Fukui, a stalwart in the goal this season with a nice 6.94 rating and a very respectable 20 saves.
Now let's shift the spotlight to the field players. For Cerezo Osaka, shining most brightly are Shunta Tanaka with an 8.10 rating and an impressive 95.0% accurate pass percentage and Masaya Shibayama, the individual who tickles the netting with 2 goals. They are backed by Rafael Ratão, a real lightning rod, boasting 3 goals.
For Urawa, Hirokazu Ishihara is a strong presence on the field with a 7.13 rating and 1 goal as is Taishi Matsumoto with an impressive 2 goals. Plus, let's not forget Ryoma Watanabe, a real lurker around the goal, also with 2 goals.
Analysing the history between these 2 teams, Cerezo Osaka have proven to be a thorn in Urawa's side, with 2 wins and 1 draw from their previous 3 matchups. Regarding the regular season records, Urawa with 8-6-5 have a slender lead over Cerezo Osaka at 7-4-7, which could play a minor role in this matchup.
Looking at the recent results paints an interesting picture. Cerezo Osaka have had a roller coaster ride with 4 wins versus 1 loss, but managed to secure some crucial victories. Meanwhile Urawa has had their fair share of battles with 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses.
Pulling all these strings together with the finesse of a puppet master, my crystal ball tells me who will come out on top in this J1 League standoff.
Albert’s Prediction: Urawa Red Diamonds by 1