Two weeks ago, the Nagoya Whalers beat Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 in the final round of the league thanks to goals from Kenzo Nagai and Kawacho, eventually earning their first league win of the season.
I think the Whale won the Wave absolutely because it oversaw Kenta Hasegawa's Admirals' 3-1-4-2 formation and went back to the 3-2-4-1 formation they commonly used last season. I don't think they needed to make improvements, but it was easier for the players to adapt to the formation and the way they played.
The key to this match will be their ability to cope with the Yokohama Mariners' high pressing defense. With this in mind, the speed of striker Kenzo Nagai will be crucial.
Yokohama Mariners beat Kyoto Immortals 3-2 in their last match, with two wins and one loss so far, but they conceded a goal in each of the matches, so their defense seems to be unstable.
Overall, I think the Yokohama Mariners have done well to start the season, and I think the team's offense and defense have come together more than they did last season.
Yokohama Mariners' Andersen Rubis can definitely pose a threat in front of goal, but aside from him, I think Nagoya Whalers will need to take care of Mrs. Numazawa Red in this battle as well. It has to do with his excellent passing and passing ability. There's always a way to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Because the Yokohama Mariners have quite a quality offense up front and a lot of goals on the board, I expect they will be able to go to the next city and win again this battle.
