GW368 - J1 League Report for Sorare (Patreon)

Intro

We have 8 games this GW in the J1 league. These midweek games come only 2-3 days after the last games with more games coming up this weekend. This makes rotation risk higher than usual, though I expect this risk to vary by team.

The full schedule including the games on Youtube International can be found below:

Predicted Lineups

These can also be found on Playsharper website here

Important to note the %s used here and where they are not above 75% it is because I feel there is some risk involved. My main aim with these is to show where risk/potential DNPs are lurking.

I base these %s on info I read from various sources including comments from the manager and reading a lot of local Japanese news coverage/message boards.

These are my own opinion of the situation at each team. I try to be as neutral as possible but we all have biases :) So always do your own research when making picks!

Sapporo vs Antlers

Notes

• Fernandes and Aoki were out of the squad last game, they are in training but no info on their condition yet
• Arano is suspended for this game. Miyazawa/Baba/Kobayashii all possible options for this role.

Notes

• Second win in a row and both wins were with cleansheets
• Likely the team remains similar to the last game. Chinen, Fujii and Doi all can come in with Kakita, Nago the most likely to make way.

Odds

Prediction

Even matchup on paper, with both playing decent stuff recently. Both have defensive fragilities so I have this down as a entertaining score draw.

Sapporo 2-2 Antlers

Kyoto vs Kawasaki

Notes

• Ichimi returns from suspension. Hard to chose the striker for this game with Patric and Yamasaki also vying for starting roles
• Toyakawa is in excellent form, having scored in the last 3 games.
• Kawasaki was surprisingly benched on the weekend, I see him returning to the lineup

Notes

• Kawasaki got a confidence boosting win away to Fukuoka
• Chanathip and Marcinho in training. They could get some mins from the bench
• No fresh injury concerns for the side. Tachibanada could come in to freshen up the midfield. I see where possible, the team staying the same as Frontale look to build momentum

Odds

Prediction

Frontale are gaining confidence slowly but surely and this has helped them take more risk in attack. I am still cautious with them overall but see them winning here relatively comfortably

Kyoto 1- 3 Kawasaki

Gamba vs Cerezo Osaka

Notes

• Though Tani wasnt at fault for the 4 goals conceded at the weekend, there are some murmurings about Higashiguchi coming back in. Im not convinced
• Suzuki, Ishige and R.Yamamoto may come in. Yuki Yamamoto is back in training but unlikely to feature inn this game.

Notes

• Fans want the team to change to 4-4-2 with players like Kato and Uejo pushing for starts
• Suzuki not seen in training and he is the most natural replacement for Harakawa if rotation was going to happy. I therefore have cautiously kept the same lineup

Odds

Prediction

This is a local Derby which is likely to be a fiery contest. Gamba have looked weak in midfield, especially later in games. I see Cerezo having too much and winning this game

Gamba 1 - 2 Cerezo Osaka

Shonan vs Kashiwa

• Barada played his first mins of the season after a long injury, he is pushing for a start
• Suzuki got his first start which was well deserved. I hope the manager continues with him but I also see him as a rotation risk with Abe able to come in

Notes

• Sento went off with an injury on the weekend and is a big doubt for this game
• Bueno played some mins and fans were impressed. He could come in as CB
• Douglas also got mins...will we finally see a start :O (he could easily disappear again tbh!)
• Matsumoto did well again last game and likely continues in nets

Odds

Prediction

Shonan have impressed me this season with their style of play. I see them picking up the win here with Machino in particular causing this Kashiwa defence big problems.

Shonan 2-0 Kashiwa

Fukuoka vs FC Tokyo

Notes

• Yuzawa is doubtful after going off injured. Maejima the natural replacement
• Miya remains out and there is no update from the team
• Nagaishi vs Murakami situation is still unclear. I have this as a coinflip

Notes

• Nakamura went off with an ankle injury and Nagatomo is fav to start in his place
• Nakagawa hasnt started 2 games inside a week this season, he could be rested.
• Higuchi and Adailton are the main players who can come in to freshen up the midfield and attack

Odds

Prediction

FC Tokyo have been playing well recently and I think they will win comfortably against a Fukuoka side who are suffering from a few injuries to key players

Fukuoka 1-2 FC Tokyo

Nagoya Grampus vs Kobe

Notes

• No new injuries, Junker is back in full training and inline to start after only be in a condition to play from the bench against YFM
• Izumi is also challenging for a start. Otherwise, Nagoya should continue with the stable team they have used all season

Notes

• Saito to return after missing the Shonan game
• Thuler did well on his return as CB and will continue in defence
• No fresh new injuries for Kobe and players like Iino returning to full fitness. Hatsuse has played excellently and has cemented his role in the starting lineup

Odds

Prediction

Nagoya are very difficult to beat, especially at home. Both teams are flying high and I see them cancelling each other out.

Nagoya Grampus 1- 1 Kobe

Sagan Tosu vs YFM

Notes

• Honda seen in training, unclear if fit to start
• Fujita remains a big doubt for the game. Team can play 3 or 4 at the back which has knock of effects and difficult to predict with confidence.

Notes

• Indication that Nishimura starts ahead of MJ
• Mizunuma at risk of dropping out of the starting X11
• Fujita could come into the midfield. YFM rotate more for midweek games and a lot will depend on training data which we hopefully get before the deadline

Odds

Prediction

Sagan Tosu are difficult to predict not only their lineups, but their performances. When in the mood, they can cause any team problems. YFM have been playing below par but I see them winning a tight contest.

Sagan Tosu 1 - 2 YFM

YFC vs Niigata

Notes

• No known fresh injury concerns
• Mineiro to partner Ogawa upfront. However the main problems for YFC are at the back

Notes

• Suzuki is doubtful for the game. Nescau could come in
• Deng missed the last game. The manager rotates the CBs alot and its unclear if it was tactical or a result of an injury and sadly no training pics yet available

Odds

Prediction

Last season J2 top two are having very conflicting seasons and I see this being a comfortable win for the visitors

YFC 1-3 Niigata

Finish

I hope found this useful!

As always these are just my own views on the situation based on research for each team. There are press conferences happening currently though what info comes out varies by the club and managers mood!

I will be updating the Discord Channel with any info I see that could prove useful all the way to deadline, so keep a look out for that

If you have any feedback or queries, just give me a shout on Discord

Good luck!