J.League Preview: Urawa Reds’ Returning Manager Wins Popularity, FC Tokyo Struggles Defensively Away from Home

On September 21 at 18:00, the 31st round of the J.League will see Urawa Reds host FC Tokyo at Saitama Stadium 2002.

In the 30th round of the J.League on September 14, Urawa Reds secured a narrow 1-0 away victory against Gamba Osaka. Attacker Kwankei Daisuke, who returned to the starting lineup after recovering from an injury, scored the decisive goal early in the second half, helping Urawa end their seven-game winless streak and giving returning Polish manager Aleksandar Vukovic a perfect welcome back gift. The return of Vukovic has been well-received by the Urawa players. Besides Daikichi Kusakabe, who also returned to the starting lineup, veteran striker Shinzo Koroki, who is set to retire at the end of the season, expressed his satisfaction with Vukovic’s return, adding that if he had come back earlier, he might not have considered retirement.

Currently in the J.League standings, Urawa Reds sit in 10th place with 10 wins, 9 draws, and 9 losses, trailing the top three by a significant 16 points, effectively eliminating any chance of qualifying for the AFC Champions League as the league enters its final stages. In this season’s 13 home league matches, Urawa Reds have achieved 6 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, a significant decline in scoring ability compared to their peak period, conceding an average of 1.3 goals per home game, which was one of the reasons for former coach Mihailo Petrovic’s dismissal. Notably, due to several typhoons, Urawa Reds have not completed a formal match at home for nearly two months, making this round’s performance at Saitama Stadium 2002 crucial for both the team and their supporters.

In terms of squad availability, Urawa Reds have no absentees for this match. Additionally, Genki Haraguchi, who returned from Union Berlin, has performed excellently in training and is expected to start. Furthermore, the two assistant coaches in Aleksandar Vukovic’s coaching staff, Janusz and Markowski, have arrived in Japan from Poland, and this “complete version of Vukovic’s team” is about to embark amidst adversity.

FC Tokyo won their last league match 4-1 at home against Nagoya Grampus. Their main attacker, Kosei Tani, contributed significantly to three of the four goals, making a strong impression. Moreover, FC Tokyo’s mixed Japanese-Brazilian midfielder Yuki Takahara scored his first goal since joining Tokyo this season, and calls for him to enter the national team are growing louder. Regarding the team’s excellent performance at the National Stadium, FC Tokyo’s head coach Petr Culek said in the post-match press conference, “This was a game where our efforts paid off, but I think there are still areas for improvement. I am pleased with the players’ fighting spirit, but I am disappointed with the conceded goal.”

Currently in the J.League standings, FC Tokyo sit in 8th place with 11 wins, 8 draws, and 11 losses, trailing the top three by 14 points, likely ending up in mid-table this season. In this season’s 14 away league matches, FC Tokyo have recorded 5 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses, with mediocre scoring ability and conceding an average of 1.7 goals per game. In their last five away games, FC Tokyo only managed a lucky draw against defensively-minded Gamba Osaka, losing to Kyoto Sanga and Kashiwa Reysol, showing poor defensive capabilities.

In terms of squad availability, FC Tokyo will be without the long-absent help of Keita Yamashita and Renta Tokuda for this match, while young attacker Ryunosuke Sagara and defender Kento Goto will be serving the U19 national team, though their absence does not affect FC Tokyo’s starting lineup.

In the previous 20 encounters between the two teams, Urawa Reds have won 10, drawn 6, and lost 4, holding the upper hand. This round, Vukovic will lead Urawa Reds back to Saitama aiming to end their three-game losing streak at home. Can FC Tokyo, struggling away from home, maintain their counter-attacking form from the last round and escape unscathed?

>>”>More predictions for this match can be found here>>>