Cerezo Osaka – Hiroshi Kiyotake has confirmed a move to FC Nurnberg after the Olympics and will be playing his last few games for Cerezo.

Very even over the last decade with six wins for Cerezo, five for Sanfrecce and three draws, although Sanfrecce haven’t won in the last five meetings.

With the impending move to the Bundesliga for Kiyotake now confirmed, the Cerezo Osaka (P13 W5 D2 L6 GD +1) fans will be turning up in their extra 1000s to see their hero off and may well be the proverbial extra man behind their team. Cerezo have been notoriously inconsistent this season – even giving Consadole their only win so far – and seem to not know when they turn it on! I feel that, with Kiyotake leaving (and the rumoured possibility of moves by BK Kim and Ogihara) that Cerezo will raise their game and take this one!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have somewhat surprised us, having lost top players over the last year AND manager Petrovic to reds, but it seems the man who took over – Moriyasu – knows enough of the tactics to keep it going …. even improve the side. With Ishihara among the goals – after rarely getting a look-in at Omiya last season – and confidence flowing, it will take a big performance from Cerezo to take them out. But that’s what I see happening… a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!