Urawa Red Diamonds' recent record is not good, the last round of the road challenge to Sanfrecce Hiroshima to 1-2 hate return, this time four matches are empty, the offensive end of the collection of only one goal. The key to the team's defeat was their failure to capitalize on the lead, poor ball control and inefficient offense, which was not effectively converted into goal scoring opportunities.
Nagoya Whale, on the other hand, showed a solid defensive system and managed to limit the opponent's offense in their match against Red Diamond in the Emperor's Cup, finishing with a 3-0 win. Personally, I think Tomoaki Okubo's role as a curator up front will be the key to Red Diamond's victory in this match.
The Whalers beat Kashima Antlers 1-0 last weekend, leaving them just two points off the top team. The team's strength lies in its solid defense, which is capable of launching quick counterattacks after a steal. The offense line of Kasper Zenka and Kenzo Nagai was very impressive, but unfortunately, Kasper Zenka was unable to play in this match due to some reasons.
The midfield will be the focus of the battle between the two sides in this match. The performance of Takuya Uchida, who not only has the ability to make tackles, but also initiate attacks through simple passes, will be the key to whether the Whale can win.
