Urawa Red Diamonds suffered their second consecutive loss in the league and three of their last four defeats after losing 0-1 to Flying Foot Osaka at their home stadium on Saturday. Although the team has a high possession rate, the attacking end seems to be lacking in power. If they want to improve their record, Urawa will need to rebuild their confidence and show more determination in the game.
With two recent defeats, Atsuki Ito's goal scoring potential should not be overlooked, even though he has not yet reached his peak form this year. In today's match, he is expected to play a key role in bringing goal threat to the team.
Nagoya Whale has not lost in the last six rounds of league matches and has won all five of them. Last Sunday, the team beat Sakura Osaka 2-1, breaking their opponent's undefeated streak this season. The key to this victory was the strict implementation of the pre-match tactics by all the players, who worked tirelessly to make the Nagoya Whale solid in defense as well as quick to counterattack on the offensive end.
Although star striker Kasper Zenka is still recovering, the team performed well in his absence. Morishimaji became the centerpiece of the attack, adding a new dynamic to the team's attack with his creativity and individual skills.
Urawa Red Diamonds is in desperate need of a home win, but the team still needs time to adjust, so I think a draw is probably the best result for Urawa Red Diamonds.
