Basement battle could define relegation fight (Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa prediction) | OneFootball

Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa: Basement Battle as Strugglers Seek Vital Points

Cerezo Osaka will host fellow strugglers Urawa Reds in a crucial J1 League clash on Friday evening, with both sides desperate to climb away from the relegation zone after disappointing starts to the 2025 campaign.

Form Guide

Arthur Papas' Cerezo side sit rock bottom of the J1 League with just five points from their opening six matches. More concerning is their current five-game winless streak, which has seen them collect just two points from a possible 15.

Their most recent outing ended in a 2-0 defeat at Yokohama FC, continuing a concerning defensive trend that has seen them concede nine goals in their last five matches.

Urawa, under the guidance of Maciej Skorża, haven't fared much better, sitting just one place and one point above their hosts in 17th position. The Reds have shown marginally better resilience, securing one win and two draws from their last five outings, most recently holding Kashima to a 1-1 draw away from home.

Key Players

Despite Cerezo's struggles, 20-year-old forward Sota Kitano has been a bright spark, netting four goals already this season. The creative Lucas Fernandes has contributed two assists, while January loan signing Rafael Ratão has shown promising signs with his impressive 86% passing accuracy.

For Urawa, Thiago Santana remains their primary attacking threat, while the creative Matheus Sávio provides the ammunition from midfield. Their January defensive reinforcement Danilo Boza is still adapting to Japanese football but will be crucial to solidifying a backline that has conceded six goals in their last five matches.

Tactical Battle

Friday's encounter at Yodoko Sakura Stadium presents an intriguing tactical matchup. Cerezo's defensive frailties have been their undoing, but they possess genuine attacking quality through Kitano and Ratão that could trouble Urawa's inconsistent defence.

The visitors will likely look to exploit Cerezo's vulnerabilities on the counter-attack, with Sávio's vision and Santana's finishing ability potentially proving decisive.

Cerezo's home advantage hasn't counted for much recently, with no wins in their last three matches at Yodoko Sakura Stadium. However, with special events planned including "Sakura Socio Day" celebrations and DJ KOO making an appearance, the atmosphere could provide a much-needed boost for the hosts.

Prediction

This is essentially a relegation six-pointer despite the season being in its early stages. Both teams are desperate for points, which often leads to cautious approaches. Cerezo's attacking quality gives them an edge, but their defensive issues remain a significant concern.

Urawa's greater defensive stability and ability to grind out results in tight games could prove decisive. Expect a tense affair with both teams finding the net.

Predicted Score: Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Urawa