Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa Reds 05/09/20

05 September 2020

With just four points separating the sides ahead of the kick-off Urawa Reds (5th) will be looking to reduce the gap on second-placed Cerezo Osaka when they lock horns at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai this weekend.

Though rocked by a 3-0 home loss to Kashiwa in their midweek’s YBC Levain Cup quarter-final showdown, Cerezo will be looking to extend a two-game winning J1 League run against the side they’ve won against in both of their previous competitive H2Hs. A tight affair is on the cards, though, as all seven of their past clashes across various competitions have ended separating the teams by under 1.5 goals (W3, D3, L1). Goals have been flowing around whenever Cerezo have taken the field lately. Each of their last four J1 League fixtures has seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet, with 58.82% of the goals scored/conceded in that span coming after the break (10/17).

Meanwhile, a 2-1 home win over Oita last time out means none of Urawa’s previous five J1 League games has ended in a draw (W3, L2), with four of them seeing over 2.5 goals and both sides score. In turn, it’s been ‘all or nothing’ for the visitors on the road lately (W4, L2). Each of those results (wins/losses) have seen the winner on the day score over 1.5 goals, with four coming despite a -1 handicap. Stubborn once they take the lead, the ‘Red Devils’ have won all but one of five J1 League trips in which they scored the opening goal (D1). But, just one of their previous seven top-flight trips to Cerezo has resulted in a win (D3, L3).