🏏 Fri, 22 May 2026 19:30 JST
Machida Zelvia
vs
Urawa
3-4-2-1 vs 4-2-3-1
Substitutes
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Match Preview
- 9th-placed Machida, 11 points behind leaders Kashima, take on 5th-placed Urawa. Machida have 23 points from 13 games and Urawa 25 from 15, so the gap in points is closer than the standings suggest. Machida are unbeaten over their last five with three wins and two draws, while Urawa are also in form with four wins and a draw. It is a contest for valuable points in the mid-table race.
- Urawa pivot Kai Shibato faces his former club Machida. Having joined Machida from Meiji University and supported the team's rise as a regular in their J1 debut season of 2025 before returning to Urawa, the defensive midfielder, whose weapons are his strength in duels and abundant running, will draw attention for what he produces against his old side.
- A clash of differing systems, with Machida in a 3-4-2-1 and Urawa in a 4-2-3-1. Among Machida's four midfielders, the double pivot of Neta Lavi (a former Maccabi Haifa captain and Israel international) and Hiroyuki Mae (a former Fukuoka captain who has played every minute in J1) holds the centre, while wide men Kotaro Hayashi and Hotaka Nakamura provide width. Urawa look to counter with a double pivot of Ryoma Watanabe and Gustafson.
- A notable duel between the two front lines. Machida's lone striker, the 197cm Tete Yengi (from Australia), boasts overwhelming height and helped a side win promotion to Scotland's top flight. Against him, Urawa's lone forward Hiaya Komori claimed an individual treble of Golden Boot, MVP and Best XI in J2. The performances of these two contrasting centre-forwards hold the key to the game.
- Machida's defence is lined with former Japan internationals. The back line of Gen Shoji (a key CB at the 2018 Russia World Cup), Yuta Nakayama (with overseas experience in the Netherlands and England) and goalkeeper Kosei Tani (who played every minute at the Tokyo Olympics) is full of players experienced on the international stage. Watch their battle of wits with Urawa's technical attackers such as Shoya Nakajima and Mateus Savio.
- Lined up in Urawa's second line are former Japan international Shoya Nakajima (with overseas experience in Portugal and Qatar) and Mateus Savio, a product of Brazil's famous Flamengo. Nakajima specialises in receiving between the opposition's defence and midfield, while Savio's weapons are his delicate touch and through balls. Their midfield battle with Machida's Neta Lavi is a highlight.
- Machida's second line features South Korea international Na Sang-ho (a 2018 Asian Games gold medallist who also played for FC Tokyo) and Brazilian winger Erik (a Yokohama F. Marinos product who scored 18 goals for Machida in their J2 days). Cutting inside from both wings and supplying crosses to the 197cm Yengi is their attacking pattern. The match-up with Urawa's full-backs Yoichi Naganuma and Hironori Ishihara is the focus.