National stage set for Zelvia's title statement (Machida Zelvia vs Urawa prediction) | OneFootball

Machida Zelvia vs Urawa: League Leaders Face Stern Test at National Stadium

Machida Zelvia will look to maintain their surprising position at the J1 League summit when they host Urawa at the National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Form Guide

Go Kuroda's Zelvia side have enjoyed a remarkable start to the 2024/25 campaign, currently sitting top of the table with five wins, two draws and just two defeats from their opening nine fixtures. Their recent form has been particularly impressive, going unbeaten in their last four matches including a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Gamba Osaka and a spirited 2-2 draw with Kawasaki Frontale last time out.

Urawa, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency under Polish coach Maciej Skorża. They've managed just two wins from their last five outings and are coming off a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Avispa Fukuoka in their previous fixture.

Team News

Machida Zelvia face significant defensive concerns ahead of Sunday's clash. Yuta Nakayama has been ruled out with a right knee ligament injury, while centre-backs Ryuho Kikuchi and Daihachi Okamura are also battling fitness issues, creating selection headaches for Kuroda.

Urawa will be without attacking options Yusuke Matsuo and Tomoaki Okubo, further limiting their creative options in a side that has already struggled to convert chances this season.

Key Battle

The contest between Takuma Nishimura and Urawa's defensive pairing of Danilo Boza and Marius Høibråten could prove decisive. Nishimura has been in excellent form with four goals already this campaign, while Zelvia's creative spark Yuki Soma (two goals, three assists) will also pose significant problems for the visitors.

For Urawa, much will depend on the performance of Thiago Santana as their primary attacking outlet, with the Brazilian forward needing better service from a midfield that has lacked invention in recent weeks.

Special Occasion

Sunday's match, dubbed "THE 国立DAY" by the J.League, takes place at the iconic National Stadium in Tokyo. Fans should note that some sections will have construction scaffolding due to preparations for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics events.

The fixture also represents a significant milestone for Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, who recently became the second-highest appearance maker in J1 League history with 632 matches.

Prediction

Machida Zelvia enter this fixture with momentum and confidence, while Urawa continue to search for consistency. The league leaders' attacking prowess should prove too much for an Urawa side struggling to find their rhythm.

Predicted Score: Machida Zelvia 2 - 0 Urawa