MX23RW : Monday, November 18 00:26:56| >> :600:8918118:8918118:
[monks data]
J1 League | Gameweek 21
Jul 16, 2023 at 11am UK
Yanmar Stadium Nagai

Cerezo
2 - 0
Urawa

Ceara (8'), Croux (25')
Croux (28'), Ceara (45+2')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Okubo (49')

Preview: Cerezo Osaka vs. Urawa Red Diamonds - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's J1 League clash between Cerezo Osaka and Urawa Red Diamonds, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Cerezo Osaka will be looking to record back-to-back wins when they host Urawa Red Diamonds at Yodoko Sakura Stadium on Sunday evening in the J League.

The hosts will move closer to their visitors on the weekend with a maximum, while Urawa are looking to chase down the AFC Champions League places in the table.


Match preview

Urawa Red Diamonds' Shinzo Koroki celebrates scoring against Al-Hilal on April 29, 2023© Reuters

Cerezo booked their place in the fourth round of the Japanese Cup on Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over Omiya Ardija at their Osaka home under the floodlights.

The hosts had to wait until the second period to break the deadlock, but a brace from Satoki Uejo and a Leo strike completed a convincing win for Osaka.

Akio Kogiku's men have struggled recently in the J League, suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time since late February.

A 2-1 loss at Sagan Tosu last week allowed the division's chasing pack to draw closer to Cerezo, with the Osaka-based club now sitting in fifth, just five points ahead of 10th.

Since their promotion from the Japanese second tier in 2016, Cerezo have finished in the top half of the J League in all but one term, and even in 2021 the club remained well clear of any relegation fight.

Urawa head into Saturday's clash as one of the in-form outfits in Japan, currently enjoying a 14-game unbeaten streak which stretches across three competitions.

Midweek saw the Red Diamonds squeeze past second-tier Montedio Yamagata in the third round of the cup, with Atsuki Ito netting the contest's only goal in the 64th minute.

Maciej Skorza's men also have remarkable long-term form, having only lost once since the beginning of March - a spell which included a historic AFC Champions League final win over Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal.

The three-time Asian champions are in the process of chasing down the top three in the J League, with Urawa sitting in fourth, currently six points behind league leaders Yokohama F Marinos.

Cerezo Osaka J1 League form:

Urawa Red Diamonds J1 League form:


Team News

Al-Hilal's Odion Ighalo in action with Urawa Red Diamonds' Alexander Scholz and Marius Hoibraaten on April 29, 2023© Reuters

Cerezo are expected to make a few changes to the side which lost at Sagan Tosu in their last league match, meaning the likes of Mutsuki Kato and Belgian Jordy Croux could be dropped to the bench.

Wednesday evening's goalscorer Uejo and midfielder Hikaru Nakahara are the most likely candidates to be introduced into the hosts' lineup as they search to find their form in the J League once again.

Urawa have no such problems with momentum or form currently, but Skorza could look to freshen up his attack after they drew a blank against FC Tokyo last time out, with Jose Kante possibly set to earn a start.

Veteran Shinzo Koroki could be the forward player to make way on Saturday - the 36-year-old is the club's all-time record goalscorer having netted over 150 times for the Red Diamonds.


Cerezo Osaka possible starting lineup:
Yang; Maikuma, Shindo, Toriumi, Funaki; Croux, Kida, Kagawa, Capixaba; Leo, Kato

Urawa Red Diamonds possible starting lineup:
Nishikawa; Ogiwara, Schloz, Hobraten, Ohata; Ito, Iwao, Okubo, Yasui, Sekine; Koroki


SM words green background

We say: Cerezo Osaka 1-3 Urawa Red Diamonds

Cerezo recorded a decent victory in the cup on Wednesday, but the visit of Urawa to Yodoko Sakura Stadium will be a much harder assignment for the hosts.

The Red Diamonds look set to continue their assault on the J League's top three, and we believe they will make it 15 games unbeaten in all competitions on Sunday evening.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:518547:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9442:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Cerezo vs Urawa

Cerezo Osaka
16.7%
Draw
16.7%
Urawa Red Diamonds
66.7%
12
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on April 2, 2023
Read Next:
Manchester United 'closing in on deal for Japanese goalkeeper'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Vissel KobeVissel Kobe36208857352268
2Sanfrecce HiroshimaHiroshima361811766392765
3Machida Zelvia36189952312163
4Gamba OsakaGamba Osaka361612845341160
5Kashima AntlersKashima Antlers361611955401559
6Tokyo Verdy36141394746155
7Cerezo OsakaCerezo361313104343052
8FC Tokyo36149134949051
9Yokohama F MarinosYokohama36147155858049
10Nagoya GrampusNagoya Grampus36145174244-247
11Avispa Fukuoka361114113135-447
12Urawa Red DiamondsUrawa351210134843546
13Kyoto Sanga361210144354-1146
14Kawasaki FrontaleKawasaki351112125751645
15Shonan BellmareShonan Bellmare36129155152-145
16Albirex Niigata361011154458-1441
17Kashiwa ReysolReysol36913143849-1140
18Jubilo Iwata3698194564-1935
19Consadole SapporoConsadole36810184161-2034
20Sagan Tosu3685234268-2629


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!