GW 500 J1 League Preview - Draft (Patreon)

Game are coming thick and fast! After yesterdays matches we have a full schedule of J league games coming up this wkend...and hopefully no more pesky storms

As games were just last night, limited team news available. Full predicted lineups will be posted tomorrow morning.

This post goes through a general preview of the GW and some SO5 analysis

Fixtures

Matches are spread out over the weekend with the vast majority coming up on Sunday. There is some general rotation risk with 2 games in quick succession especially given the extremely humid conditions teams are playing in.

Teams will get a week break after this game so that reduces the risk somewhat.

J1 Table

Kashima got a comprehensive win against struggling Sagan to move 3 points to the top of the table. Hiroshima got a late winner to move ahead of Kobe who had a nightmare evening lose 3-0 against Kawasaki and having 2 players sent off.

Kyoto came from behind to win 3-2 to Nagoya and are in excellent form as they move away from the relegation zone. Sapporo narrowly lost to an improving YFM side and remain rooted to the bottom of the table

Main Point

• Thuler (Kobe), Iino (Kobe), Peixoto (Iwata), Germain (Iwata) Uchida, (Nagoya), Morishima (Nagoya), Togashi (Cerezo) .Sugioka (Machida) cant play due to contractual reasons

• We have seen lots of transfers in the last couple of weeks! Best place to see these are here

• Yokohama (Sagan) has now been allowed to leave to complete his expected transfer to Birmingham City (league not covered on Sorare)

• Urawa vs Kashiwa was postponed last game, no new date given. Teams will be fresh for this GW

• Players like Ohata (Urawa), Sekine and Hosoya (Kashiwa) are expected to return after resting last game due to u23 Olympics fatigue

• Elber went off due to fatigue from the heat. Should be ok but slight risk

• Popp and Kojima returned to nets last game and look good to go

• Kyoto are the form team and unbeaten in 6 with 4 wins and 2 draws.

• Hiroshima and YFM have won 3 games in a row

• Sagan have lost their 3 games in a row

• Nagoya have picked up just 4 points from their last 7 games.

SO5 Analysis

Best xG - Hiroshima (1.69xG)

Best Clean sheet odds -Kashima (42% CS)

Best Stack - Kashima, Urawa

Kashima have a very favourable fixture against an out of form Iwata who also have their two main strikers out suspended. A clean sheet looks decent too.

Sagan Tosu are struggling and also have lost a number of key players with further rumours of Ryan potentially leaving. Although Urawa have had an inconsistent season they are big favourites here.

Hiroshima have decent odds against Cerezo however I reckon the game will be tighter than the bookies suggest. Cerezo style on the counter can cause Hiroshima issues although with their recent signings have improved their defensive strength

Players I like this GW are - Suzuki, Yan, Sekigawa, Yamada, Hoibraten, Ito