Wednesday Preview: Yokohama F. Marinos’ Multi-Front Collapse Inevitable,浦和红钻 Boosted by Last-Minute Win

At 18:00 on October 30, in the 35th round of the J1 League, Yokohama F. Marinos will host浦和红钻 at Nissan Stadium.

On October 18, in the 34th round of the J1 League, Yokohama F. Marinos drew 0-0 with Albirex Niigata at home. The team’s interim head coach, Lee Hae-sung, almost fielded a full-strength lineup but failed to secure three points. Instead, they were threatened by Albirex Niigata’s attackers Danilo Gomes and Tatsuki Hasegawa in the final stages of the match. If not for the multiple brilliant saves by goalkeeper Daiki Iikura, Yokohama F. Marinos would have suffered consecutive league losses.

In the subsequent AFC Champions League Elite Round, Yokohama F. Marinos drew 2-2 away against Shandong Taishan. Despite making rotations in the double pivot positions, they were equalized late in the game, and their chances of advancing are not optimistic. Additionally, in the Emperor’s Cup semi-final last weekend, Yokohama F. Marinos were defeated in extra time by Gamba Osaka, with players collapsing on the pitch after the match. Considering their elimination from the J.League Cup, a multi-front collapse is inevitable for the team this season.

Currently, in the J1 League standings, Yokohama F. Marinos are 13th with a record of 12 wins, 6 draws, and 15 losses, leading the relegation zone by 7 points. They still need to secure theoretical safety with one fewer match played. In 17 home league matches this season, Yokohama F. Marinos have achieved a record of 6 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses, conceding an average of 1.3 goals per game. Although their defense is slightly better at home compared to away, it is still unsatisfactory for fans. In their last five home matches, Yokohama F. Marinos only secured a 4-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai, while losing to FC Tokyo and Nagoya Grampus, and drawing with Albirex Niigata and Gamba Osaka, which infuriated the home crowd.

In terms of the squad, Yokohama F. Marinos will be without midfielder Claude due to suspension, but there are no other absentees. Veteran Ryō Miyashiro has also recovered from injury. Notably, young midfielder Riku Yamane was named the Best Young Player of the J.League Cup this season. Both Cowell and Lee Hae-sung have placed great emphasis on his development, and he started in the last two matches.

On October 23, in the 25th round of the J1 League,浦和红钻 secured a 1-0 victory over柏太阳神 at home, ending a four-match losing streak. For most of the match,浦和红钻 were under pressure from柏太阳神’s striker Kousuke Kida and attacker Savio. Fortunately, former浦和红钻 player Tomoya Inukai inadvertently handled the ball in the penalty area in the final moments, allowing substitute Thiago Santana to score the winning penalty. This also gave returning coach Scolari his first home win. After the match, Scolari said, “I think our defense was good, but the opponent was very aggressive, so we struggled to score. But even in stoppage time, we continued to attack, which is why we stayed in the game.”

Currently, in the J1 League standings,浦和红钻 are 12th with a record of 11 wins, 9 draws, and 13 losses, leading the relegation zone by 7 points. The team has been struggling throughout the season and has not completely escaped the threat of relegation. In 17 away league matches this season,浦和红钻 have a record of 4 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses, with a win rate of only 24%. Under defensive-minded coach Scolari, the team’s attacking efficiency has further declined. In the last two away matches,浦和红钻 lost to Vissel Kobe and Tokyo Verdy, conceding goals from set pieces in both games.

In terms of the squad,浦和红钻’s starting central defender Holmborn will be suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. It is expected that Ryo Hayashihara and Yūta Sato will partner as the central defensive duo, although in their last joint appearance,浦和红钻 lost 0-1 to their rivals, Cerezo Osaka. However, the good news is that the team’s two attacking foreigners, Gustafson and Lin Sen, have recovered from injuries and performed well in the last match.

In the past 20 meetings between the two teams, Yokohama F. Marinos have a record of 11 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses, holding a significant advantage. In the six home matches against浦和红钻 since 2019, Yokohama F. Marinos have won all of them. In this round, Yokohama F. Marinos will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and historical edge to get back on track. As a traditional powerhouse,浦和红钻 also have high morale. What kind of sparks will these two teams create?

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