Vissel Kobe – DF Inoha is undergoing tests on a knee injury.

Urawa Reds – MF Naoki Yamada is out for the season

11 wins for Urawa, 9 for Kobe and 2 draws over the last decade, all in J1 or the Nabisco Cup. Vissel won four-in-a-row until Reds’ home win in J1 this season.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds have won just two of their last five, drawing the other three, but remain just three points off the top since Sanfrecce and Vegalta have been having similar inconsistent runs. This has allowed teams in the middle of the table to close the gap and, if Urawa are to pull away from their challengers and cement an ACL 2013 place, or even the Championship, they must win games like this. They still struggle to score goals, of their 28 so far this season 4 came in one game against Sagan Tosu, so they are barely over a goal per game average. not good enough for a team to make a top three place! They were lucky to not lose players to the London Olympics but have not taken advantage of other teams’ inconsistencies and, to make it simple, they need more goals. Marcio Richardes has weighed in recently but he needs help from Haraguchi, or the bench players – the likes of Tatsuya Tanaka, for example, when they are given their chances.

Vissel Kobe have stuttered after a reasonable start to the season and two losses and two draws in their last four games, including a 5-1 defeat at Nagoya last week has been a disappointment to those expecting more from the team under coach Akira Nishino, but, hopefully for Vissel fans, and Nishino in particular, the owners will have patience as the coach builds his team in his image. It took him a few years to get Gamba to win the league and then the ACL – Vissel fans won’t mind waiting a little. The likes of Morioka, Ogawa, Okui and even Inoha, not that old yet, are the future of the club and I see a bright future, if Nishino is given time to build his team. Ogawa is turning into a key man – or teenager – for the club and could be the difference against a back three. Abe, Suzuki and the Reds have plenty of experience, but youth, enthusiasm and speed is a dangerous combination to come up against. Reds beware! Unfortunately Vissel may be missing centre back Inoha – again – and will be lacking there if Takagi is selected.

EXPECT a DRAW!