Sávio's magic vs Elias' firepower (Urawa Reds vs Kyoto Sanga prediction) | OneFootball

Urawa Reds vs Kyoto Sanga: Form Teams Clash in Crucial J1 League Encounter

Urawa Reds host high-flying Kyoto Sanga at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday evening in what promises to be a compelling J1 League Round 20 fixture, as second-placed Sanga look to maintain their title push against an improving Reds side.

Recent Form

Maciej Skorża's Urawa enter this contest with renewed confidence following their clinical 2-0 victory over Machida Zelvia, which ended their opponents' six-match unbeaten run. Norwegian defender Marius Høibråten and forward Yusuke Matsuo provided the goals in an efficient away performance.

The Reds have shown mixed form in recent weeks, collecting two wins, two draws and a defeat from their last five matches. Their defensive solidity has been notable, conceding just four goals during this period.

Kyoto Sanga, meanwhile, arrive in Saitama as one of the league's form teams. Cho Kwi-Jae's side have taken 13 points from their last five matches, including an impressive 4-3 victory at Kashima Antlers and a comfortable 2-0 win over Shonan Bellmare in their most recent outing.

Key Players

Urawa will look to the creative influence of Brazilian midfielder Matheus Sávio, who provided the assist for Høibråten's opener against Machida. The January signing from Kashiwa Reysol has quickly established himself as a key component in Skorża's system.

Høibråten himself has been outstanding at the heart of defence, combining defensive resilience with a goal threat from set-pieces. His partnership with Brazilian centre-back Danilo Boza, another January arrival, has strengthened Urawa's backline considerably.

For Kyoto, Brazilian forward Rafael Elias has been the standout performer with six goals and three assists this season. After briefly returning to Cruzeiro in January, Sanga secured his services permanently for €1.4 million – an investment that has paid dividends.

The visitors have also benefited from winter additions Masaya Okugawa from FC Augsburg and Patrick William from Rio Ave, adding quality throughout their squad.

Previous Meeting

The teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw during Round 2 earlier this season. Urawa struggled to handle Kyoto's aggressive pressing and physical approach on that occasion, something Skorża has highlighted as an area for improvement.

Tactical Battle

Wednesday's encounter is likely to pit Urawa's structured defensive approach against Kyoto's dynamic attacking play. The hosts will aim to exploit spaces behind Kyoto's high press, while the visitors will look to maintain the intensity that has served them so well in recent weeks.

The midfield battle between Urawa's Samuel Gustafson and Kaito Yasui against Kyoto's Sota Kawasaki and Shimpei Fukuoka could prove decisive in determining which side gains control.

Prediction

With Kyoto Sanga sitting second in the table and showing remarkable consistency, they enter as slight favourites despite playing away from home. However, Urawa's recent defensive solidity and home advantage at Saitama Stadium 2002 suggest this will be a closely contested affair.

Urawa's ability to neutralise Rafael Elias will be crucial, while Kyoto must be wary of the hosts' threat from set-pieces and the creative spark of Matheus Sávio.

Predicted Score: Urawa Reds 1-2 Kyoto Sanga