Vissel Kobe are three points off J1 League leader Yokohama F. Marinos ahead of round No 18. The Cows have a game in hand and are in the title fight with the reigning champions.
Vissel Kobe have never won the J1 League in any of the Japanese top-flight's incarnations. This season could be the Cows’ best chance of winning the title.
今日はあいにくの雨でしたが、しっかりトレーニング！🌧️Another day of training hard in the rain! 🌧️#visselkobe #ヴィッセル神戸 pic.twitter.com/npLn7AIDXD— ヴィッセル神戸 (@visselkobe) June 22, 2023
今日はあいにくの雨でしたが、しっかりトレーニング！🌧️Another day of training hard in the rain! 🌧️#visselkobe #ヴィッセル神戸 pic.twitter.com/npLn7AIDXD
Avispa Fukuoka are out to spoil Vissel Kobe’s hopes of winning a first J1 League championship. Fukuoka are 11th ahead of matchday No 18.
The Hornets are in awful form going into the home match with Vissel. They failed to win any of their last six games and are on a three-match losing streak in the J1 League.
Avispa Fukuoka took a mere two points from their last six games. They scored three goals and conceded nine times to their last six opponents.
An incredible 17 of Avispa Fukuoka’s 20 points in the league came at home. They are a strong home team and Vissel Kobe could be in danger of dropping points.
Vissel Kobe took 11 points from the last six games in the league. They are coming off a 2-1 defeat to Cerezo Osaka. The loss ended a five-match unbeaten run for Vissel Kobe.
The Cows' loss to Cerezo was their first away defeat of the season. Vissel have a road record of 4W-2D-1L this season and an away goal difference of +9.
Vissel won their last two matches against Avispa Fukuoka. Earlier this season, the Cows won 1-0 at home thanks to a Jean Patrick 70th-minute goal. Vissel Kobe kept two clean sheets in their last five league matches.
Manager Takayuki Yoshida should deploy Vissel in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Striker Yuya Osako leads the team in goals with 11.
Osako did not feature in Vissel’s recent loss to Yokohama in the J League Cup. He could return with Brazilian Lincoln dropping to the bench.
Vissel right-back Tetsushi Yamakawa will miss the game with a broken foot. Center-back Ryuho Kikuchi is out of action with an ACL injury.
Avispa Fukuoka manager Shigetoshi Hasebe watched his club win 1-0 in the J League Cup against Kashiwa Reysol in midweek.
Wellington got the game’s only goal. The team go into round No 18 led in goals by Yuya Yamagishi (seven).
The forward started next to Wellington in midweek in Avispa Fukuoka’s 4-4-2 formation. The squad is set out defensively by Hasebe. The manager uses two holding No 6 players.
Vissel picked up a narrow 1-0 win against Avispa Fukuoka earlier in the campaign and should do it once more. The Cows should win 2-0 to keep pace with Yokohama at the top of the table.