Sakura Osaka suffered their first defeat of the season in last week's clash, conceding a goal late in the game against the Nagoya Whales to end up with a 1-2 loss.
In this loss, the problems of the team's defense were exposed, especially in dealing with high balls, the team's tall players failed to effectively contain the opponent's attack. Meanwhile, the team's goal scorer Rioschiala has the ability to play alone, but failed to play a proper role in the game.
On the flip side, Yokohama Mariners made it to their first ever AFC Champions League final after a penalty shootout last weekend. Despite their high-intensity midweek showdown, the team's morale has not been affected too much and they are eager to turn this historic achievement into an advantage in the league.
It's worth noting that Elba's comeback has added new energy to the Yokohama Mariners' attack, while N'Souza, a Brazilian winger, provides a huge threat to the team's side attacks with his unique skills and precise passing.
Although both sides are equally strong on the offensive end, I predict that Cerezo Osaka's consistency on the defensive end will help them gain the upper hand in this matchup.
