Tokyo Verdy (home)
- Tokyo Verdy’s style is patient, possession-based soccer, where they try to control the midfield and create chances from structured build-up play.
- Tokyo Verdy 1969 are a patient, possession-based team under coach Hiroshi Jofuku, a Japanese coach with plenty of experience in the game.
- He is trying to build a team with a set identity and they are very well-disciplined and structured, but results suggest they might need a little more ruthlessness at either end of the field.
- Verdy’s form has been mixed with two wins, a draw (won on penalties) and two defeats in their last five J1 100 Year Vision League matches.
- They have faded a bit going into this matchup with two straight defeats, although they did score three times at Mito and twice against Kashiwa and Machida.
Urawa Red Diamonds (away)
- Urawa Red Diamonds play an intense pressing game and are very vertical, looking to disrupt their opponents and attack rapidly in transition.
- The Big Three coach Maciej Skorża has a very different style of play and his sides are always attack-minded and hungry to press.
- They have won three of their last five league games with one defeat and a draw, including two clean sheets and an away win at Yokohama F. Marinos.
- Urawa sit near the top of the 100 Year Vision League East group on 10 points from five matches, two points more than Verdy.
Head-to-Head
- Urawa have won two of the last four J1 100 Year Vision League games against Verdy, who have won once at home and drawn once.
- Both teams have shown a lack of concentration in defense at times.
Key Players
Urawa’s forwards are clicking on all cylinders with Leo Seara and Yuma Suzuki adding to the threat on set pieces, where they have been very good, and finishing their chances clinically.
Betting Insights
- The odds reflect the superior form of the visitors with Urawa the slight favourites at 2.33 compared to Verdy at 3.23 and a tie at 3.04.
- A tight game is likely, so the recommendation is to take ‘Both teams to score - No’ at 1.7.
Prediction
The bookmakers are probably right, but there could be an upset here if Verdy’s home record and star player Itsuki Someno can be catalysts.
