Tag Archives: Urawa

Previews

J1 Final Day Preview – Urawa Reds vs Nagoya Grampus at Saitama 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Urawa Reds – no suspensions, DF Mizuta and MF Kashiwagi are both needing a fitness test, MF Naoki Yamada is in training but not match fit after six months out.
Nagoya Grampus – no suspensions, DF Abe, MF Alessandro Santos, FW Kennedy out injured.

Head to Head – 9 wins for Grampus, 7 for Reds and 5 draws since 2003.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds have slipped to 5th place as the final day approaches, with 3 losses in their last five matches, the fans will be disappointed if an ACL spot is not clinched, yet they have to win this – against a team also in the hunt for the ACL – AND rely on results around them, hoping that Reysol and Tosu do not win. It’s going to be a tall order to qualify for the ACL for Reds now but they will have home advantage and, if the fans are reasonable (comparing the last two seasons of relegation battles against this campaign) they may get full support of the crowd and pull through this one.

Nagoya Grampus have had a roller coaster season, up and down, injuries galore and have been consistent in their inconsistency! They had put a decent run together in the final weeks and were looking good for the 3rd spot when they slipped up against Antlers last week and that could well have put paid to their ACL chance. A draw is not good enough for them and, even with a win, like other teams, they have to wait and see what happens around them. They have suffered with the loss of Kennedy for many games this season and he is not expected back in this final match. EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

J.League J1 Preview Matchday 32 – 14:00 Urawa Reds vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Saitama

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Team News
Urawa Reds – DF Mizuta out injured, MF Naoki Yamada training but not match fit.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima report no injuries, and there are no suspensions.

Head to Head
9 wins for Reds, 5 for Sanfrecce and 3 draws since 2004.

Match Preview
Urawa Reds have lost three of their last four games yet still find themselves in 3rd place due to the teams around them dropping points. Their defeat at Kawasaki Frontale put paid to their title hopes but they will be hoping they can hold back the tide and stop Sanfrecce all but sealing up the title if they win here and Vegalta fail to win at Kashima. Reds are on a downward spiral, with no goalscorers on the field, while Sanfrecce score for fun, with Sato top of the scoring charts, and know that if they win this they will stay clear at the top, or even stretch their lead. EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Kawasaki Frontale vs Urawa Reds at Todoroki

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Team News
Kawasaki Frontale – MF Ohshima and FW Kazama will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF Morishita back in training but not expected to play yet.
Urawa Reds – MF Yajima will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF Hirakawa doubtful, DF Mizuta out. MF Naoki Yamada in training but not yet fit after 6 months out.

Head to Head – 9 wins for Reds, just 4 for Frontale and 5 draws since 2005. Frontale have not won this game since 2009.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds must win this with S-Pulse on their heels for that 3rd ACL spot, while Kawasaki Frontale are also in a must-win situation, for fear of being dragged deeper into the relegation dogfight. Reds still lack a goalscorer, Genki Haraguchi has proved he is not that player, while Despotovic has not featured this season and must soon be on his way! Rumours of Reds approaching Davi of Kofu and Koroki of Antlers have surfaced this week, but any incoming player will be too late for this season.

Frontale are far from safe and another defeat will have their fans biting their nails for 2 or 3 more games yet, especially if Ardija, Gamba and Vissel get the right results. Surely not all of them will win, but I think this is a defeat for Frontale. Certainly, even 2 or 3 wins in their final games should not hide the fact that coach Kazama has problems somewhere – if he finds them, maybe a better season next year! EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 14.00 – Urawa Reds v. Cerezo Osaka at Saitama Stadium

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Cerezo to do S-Pulse a BIG Favour and hold off Reds?

Team News – Urawa Reds – MF Yajima will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.

Cerezo Osaka report no injuries or suspensions.

Head to Head – Eight wins for Reds, five for Cerezo and two draws in a decade of J1 and Nabisco Cup meetings.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds have lost three out of their last five when they could have been challenging for the top spot, and find themselves six points adrift of the top two, WAY behind in goal difference too, AND under attack from the trio of teams on 45 points, just three behind them as we go into the last five games. Reds’ lack of a real striker has been their downfall – relying on late Popo goals is not a strategy for a winning team and having to start him as a lone striker shows desperation! Keep this team together, add a real striker and maybe, just maybe, a 2013 Championship challenge might be seen. But today a resurgent and relaxed Cerezo Osaka may put paid to a top spot dream altogether and even knock them out of the top three.

Cerezo re-hired coach Levir Culpi to keep them in J1, nothing more, and it looks as if he has done that. Cerezo realistically need another 2 or 3 points from their final games to be sure and then they can plan ahead for next season, try to keep their best players from oving on, and find a coach that can bring out the potential that these players, this team has. They are relaxed indeed under Culpi but he is not staying, they’ll win a few more games for him before he goes home, though. Including this one? Maybe! EXPECT a DRAW!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Urawa Reds vs Consadole Sapporo at Saitama Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Urawa Reds – only the long-term injury of Naoki Yamada is affecting Reds this week.
Consadole Sapporo – FW Maeda is facing a fitness test, FW Tele is doubtful.

Head to Head – In J1 2008 home and away Reds won both games, and this season Reds won the away match – that’s all there is between these two teams!

Match Preview – Consadole Sapporo were mathematically relegated last weekend, with 7 games to go. 70 goals conceded, just 20 scored, and showing a goal difference of minus 50, this must be the game that Urawa Reds make the 2nd spot their own. With me expecting Vegalta Sendai to falter again against Gamba, Reds can rack up some goals today and pull back some of the 12 goals that separate their goal difference from Vegalta’s, ready to take 2nd and start putting pressure on Sanfrecce for the top spot. Despite scoring only 37 goals all season, and having that 5-0 home loss to Gamba to think about, Reds are still in position to make a grab for the title. Imagine if they’d had a decent all-out centre forward who could score goals this season (Leandro and Reds? What a combination that might have been!). There is no reason to look at the chances of Consadole in this game, unless we think that, now that they’ve been relegated the pressure is off?!! Didn’t think so? If Haraguchi can keep his mind on the game after being subbed very early last week, and the midfield boys provide the chances (and convert them) EXPECT a high-scoring WIN for URAWA REDS!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview Sat. Sept.15th – 19:00 Yokohama F. Marinos vs Urawa Reds at Nissan Stadium

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Yokohama F.Marinos only reporting long term injury victim Amano.
Urawa Reds – apart from MF Naoki Yamada who is out for the season, no other injuries reported this week.

Since 2003 we have seen 10 wins each, and five draws – even all the way!

Yokohama F.Marinos had a long run unbeaten and rose up the table before biting the dust against Cerezo Osaka away and then losing another up against FC Tokyo. The Marinos bubble burst and many fans are hoping it will mean that Manabu Saito will get more time on the field after returning from London 2012. Shunsuke Nakamura has not shown too much of his super skills this season, perhaps he should make way for Saito? Marinos have conceded only 26 goals this season BUT have scored only 30, with Marquinos, Ono and Oguro misfiring often.
Up against Urawa Reds, who will be looking for a win to make up for the disappointment of a draw in the Saitama Derby last time out, will be a tough ask for Marinos.

Reds seem to be gearing up for a tilt at the top in the final games and since the top two are playing each other this week, a win for Reds is imperative. They won’t let this opportunity pass will they?

EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 18:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs Urawa Reds at Ecopa

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Shimizu S-Pulse – LB Lee and CB Jong-a-Pin are suspended, while DF Yoshida is undergoing fitness tests.
Urawa Reds – all players seem to be fit for selection except Naoki Yamada who is out for the season.

Head to Head – ten wins each and four draws over the last decade – very even. Reds won the encounter earlier this year, but you have to go back to 2008 for Reds’ last League win before that!

Shimizu S-Pulse have begun a revival, as predicted here and this game is a major test of their credentials. A win for S-Pulse will put them within one point of Urawa Reds, while a win for Reds will dent Shimizu’s confidence and send them 7 points adrift of their opponents. Both teams have had problems scoring this season, though S-Pulse have finally started finding the net in the last few weeks and new signing, Korean Olympic forward Kim Hyun Sung will be looking to score his first for the team, while Omae and Takagi are hitting goals again, ably supported by Alex Brosque. So, while the forwards may be on song, the team will be without at least two of their regular defence and so may consider curtailing the attacking tendencies to concentrate on keeping it tight at the back – or maybe not! Coach Afshin Ghotbi is a swashbuckling type and while his players are confident he may just hope to score more goals than Reds!
As noted, Urawa Reds are not scoring many goals, so may not trouble the depleted S-Pulse defence as mush as they should… Ugajin has been scoring from midfield recently, and Haraguchi is gaining confidence up front. If the likes of Tanaka, Popo and Despotovic can give help from the bench Reds may hit the net today.

I am going to stick my neck out and go for a highscoring WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.18th – 19:00 Urawa Reds vs Kashima Antlers at Saitama

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Urawa Reds – FW Marcio Richardes is suspended. MF Naoki Yamada is out for the season.

Kashima Antlers – DF / MF Koji Nakata will be out for two months with a knee injury.

7 wins for Antlers, 6 wins for Reds and 7 draws since 2003

Urawa Reds were put in their place by Vissel Kobe last weekend, Yoshito Okubo’s penalty keeping them from moving to within a win of the top spot. Kashima Antlers have won 3 of their last 5 including a win over Jubilo Iwata last week – they are missing Koji Nakata to injury, but Iwamasa will be buoyed by a national team recall. Reds have won only two of their last five, yet still remain in reach of the top spot – a testament to the unpredictability of J1 this year – and every year! I seriously believe that anyone down to S-Pulse in 10th position can still win this league so Reds must win this to keep the lower teams at bay.

Kashima Antlers will be hoping the likes of Kuroki and Osako can score the goals that will keep them out of the relegation zone but Reds will be too strong for them today – EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

PREVIEW – Urawa Reds v. Yokohama F. Marinos – May 3rd

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Reds Too Strong For Marinos!

Team News
Urawa Reds – Naoki Yamada is a long-term injury absentee
Yomokaha F.Marinos – Tomisawa is suspended. DF Amano is a long term absentee through injury. Marquinos in training but will not be match fit even if available.

Match Preview
Last time out both teams were successful and both need wins to keep up the momentum gaimed. Urawa Reds (P8 W5 D1 L2 GD +4) line up in equal 2nd place on goal difference after two seasons of struggle and a win here would keep them in touch with leqders Sendai. Coach Petrovic’s three back system has been picked up quickly by the players and it now seems that key player Yuki Abe has settled at defensive midfield after being tried atnentre back. The re-emergence of Tsuboi in the back three has helped that choice.
Yokohama F.Marinos (P8 W1 D4 L3 GD -2) finally won their first game of the season last time out, against Vissel Kobe, with three goals in a seven minute spell. The fnishing was good, but the msrking was suddenly slack and, while a win will do the team wonders, there was little changed in their perfromance, some fans might well have been disappointed that the win meant that their coach was not fired, as must be being considered, even now. Perhaps a delay of the inevitable, as they will struggle to come out of this game with anything.
EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Head to Head
Ten wins for Reds, nine for Marinos and five draws in 24 J1 and Nabisco Cup meetings. Both 2011 meetings were away wins.