Sagan Tosu vs Cerezo Osaka

Sagan Tosu will play host to out-of-form Cerezo Osaka at the Ekimae Real Estate Stadium in a must-win J1 League encounter.

Tosu recovered from a half-time deficit to beat Nagoya Grampus 3-1 at home last time out and bring a dismal four-match winless J1 League run to a halt (D3, L1). Against this form backdrop, the hosts have turned into a force to be reckoned with at home since going down 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in mid-April, racking up three victories in their subsequent four home league games (D1). In fact, that loss to Gambra remains Tosu’s solitary home league defeat this season (W7, D2). Even if they fall behind, Kim Myung-hwi’s men should have enough character to bounce back, having ended up winning two of the three home J1 League fixtures in which they conceded first (L1). Yet, low scoring has been a common theme in their recent H2Hs held at this venue, with each of the last three featuring under 2.5 goals.

As for Cerezo Osaka, they head into proceedings in the midst of a rough patch, having gone from back-to-back league losses to three straight draws. By extension, the visitors are winless in their last eight J1 League matches in a row (D5, L3), frustratingly netting under 1.5 goals on seven occasions in that sequence. On the bright side, Levir Culpi’s men have avoided defeat in both of their previous top-flight trips to Tosu (W1, D1) despite scoring precisely one goal apiece across those H2Hs. Lapses of concentration beyond half-time have seen Cerezo record 11 of their 12 away league goals conceded this season come in the second half of play. Five (55.56%) of Cerezo’s nine J1 League trips this term have seen a goal scored beyond the 75th minute, highlighting the potential for plenty of late action.