Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Cerezo Osaka by 1Well, isn't this a showstopper, Cerezo Osaka against Gamba Osaka! They're so eager to kick the ball around in the same city, I'm betting they even share a car pool.
Starting with the boys defending the goals, we have Jun Ichimori working for Gamba Osaka - been keeping busy with a commendable 7.50 rating and 12 saves. On the Cerezo end, there's Koki Fukui with a 6.85 rating and just 2 saves. Ichimori might want to train Fukui on how to keep those balls from sneaking in.
In the limelight of Gamba Osaka, we have the illustrious Takashi Usami sporting a solid 7.17 rating and, just for giggles, he throws a goal in there. Also worth a mention is Keisuke Kurokawa with a 7.13 rating, and believe it or not, he hasn't exhibited any shots on goal. His passing accuracy, however, at 81.1%, might be something Cerezo should worry about. And let's not forget about Takeru Kishimoto, Gamba's secret weapon, with a 7.07 rating and, lo and behold, 1 goal.
Over to Cerezo Osaka, we've got Rafael Ratão, that charming Brazilian luring in an impressive 7.50 rating and 2 goals. Lucas Fernandes, another Brazilian starlet, with 7.65 rating but no goals to brag about yet. Shinji Kagawa, a household name over a Sunday brunch, figures quite prominently with an 89.6 passing accuracy, despite no goals under his belt this season.
Past matchups lean towards Cerezo with recent victories although there was a nil-all draw in the mix there. Let's be cautious of Gamba who managed to sneak a win during their 2024 meeting. Regular season records show Cerezo a little bit ahead with 9 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses compared to Gamba's 8 wins, 4 draws, and 10 losses. To put it in simpler terms, Gamba probably should've washed their uniforms a bit more often.
Recent games show Cerezo walking with more swagger, pulling off 3 wins compared to Gamba's single victory over FC Tokyo. But don't be fooled, ladies and gentlemen, soccer is a stingy lady, and she loves to throw a curveball.
All in all, Albert’s Prediction: Cerezo Osaka by 1