Kashiwa Reysol – Leandro Domingues and Hiroki Sakai are suspended. Reserve goalkeeper Kirihata is injured.
Vissel Kobe – Centre back Komoto is a long term injury and is being missed, but other regular centre back Kitamoto is expected back from injury. There also may be a first appearance for ex-Kashima forward Yuzo Tashiro after ankle surgery.
Vissel Kobe (P6 W2 D2 L4 GD -6) opened the season with two wins and high hopes but have since gone down to four defeats-in-a-row, but have suffered from wasted chances galore in games that they could have won, notably in the home defeat by FC Tokyo, so the panic buttons are not yet being pressed by the powers-that-be above coach Wada! Perhaps Tashiro will be the answer to those problems. Last week they could have been ahead against Urawa Reds before an unmarked Abe popped the first one in from a corner. They then succumbed to a killer goal from a Marcio Richardes free kick but the game could have gone either way all the way so expect further spirited play from the home team.
Kashiwa Reysol (P6 W2 D1 L3 GD 0)have been very inconsistent this season after a championship-winning 2011. Of course they are no longer the surprise team, which goes against them. They also have the added responsibility of an ACL campaign, which is not going well. They will struggle to match anywhere near their achievements of last season and, today, without marauding right back Sakai and “love him or hate him, he’s effective” Leandro Domingues they will struggle to beat a motivated Vissel Kobe who have players improving with every game. Ogawa is a young supersub right now, while Tanaka is keeping Hashimoto on the bench.
Vissel Kobe seem to have decent depth in every position this season and will only get better. Expect a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!
Historically it’s quite even between these two teams in 19 meetings, 9 wins for Reysol, 8 for Vissel, and a couple of draws, although Vissel have only won twice in the last six seasons so will be hoping to overturn that record.