Cerezo Osaka are in good form after beating Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 on Sunday, and have only lost once in their last six league matches. The team's strong performance can be attributed to their solid defense, which has been more solid than ever.
In addition, Hiroyoshi Okuno is one of the most stable players in the midfield, and his efficient style of play and quality will once again be the key to victory in this match. However, if they fail to deliver a high level of defensive performance in the middle of the midfield, they will face a tough battle against Sanfrecce Hiroshima who are always on the move.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima suffered their first defeat in their last 7 league matches when they were beaten 1-2 at home by FC Tokyo last week. The defeat was partly attributed to the team's inability to make proper decisions and show quality against FC Tokyo's solid defense.
The most interesting clash of the match will be on Sanfrecce's right side, where Kusumi Koshido will have to fight with Sakura's left winger Ryosuke Yamanaka. If Kusakata is forced to play a lot of defense, Sanfrecce's attacking power will be reduced, so he needs to keep confidence in himself.
Considering that Cerezo Osaka's defense has improved in recent games, I think Hiroshima will be in for a tough battle, especially in the midfield. Both teams may not be able to show their best in offense in the end, so I expect this match to end with a handshake and a point each.
