🏏 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:00 JST
Avispa Fukuoka
vs
Cerezo Osaka
3-4-2-1 vs 3-4-2-1
Substitutes
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Match Preview
- The table tells two very different stories. Avispa Fukuoka sit 17th on zero points with a minus-one goal difference after losing 0-1 at home to Vissel Kobe on the opening weekend. Cerezo Osaka are sixth on three points, having beaten Fagiano Okayama 2-1 at their own ground in round one. With Kashiwa Reysol already on six points from two games at the top, Fukuoka badly need something from this home fixture.
- A rare mirrored goalkeeper subplot frames the night: both No.1s are facing a former club. Fukuoka's Takumi Nagaishi, a 30-year-old standing 191cm, spent time at Cerezo Osaka after arriving from Renofa Yamaguchi and joined Fukuoka permanently in 2022. He was on loan at Tokushima Vortis in the first half of 2026 before returning in June. Cerezo's Kosuke Nakamura, 31, is a 2018 World Cup squad member who played for Kashiwa Reysol, Portimonense and Avispa Fukuoka.
- Both sides line up in a 3-4-2-1, so the game becomes a straight mirror in which the space behind the wing-backs is the most valuable currency. Fukuoka field Yu Hashimoto, a two-footed 24-year-old who won the Kyushu university league assist crown with 16 assists in 21 games, on the right, and former FC Machida Zelvia winger Kazuki Fujimoto on the left. Cerezo answer with Ayumu Ohata at left wing-back and Dion Cools on the right.
- Shinji Kagawa, now 37, starts as one of Cerezo's two shadow strikers. The former Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United attacking midfielder, who later played for Real Zaragoza, Sint-Truiden and PAOK, still thrives in tight areas with his first-touch quality. Alongside him is Yuki Yokoyama, an attacking midfielder who helped FC Imabari climb from J3 to J2 and offers raw acceleration. That blend of veteran craft and youthful pace will test the space in front of Fukuoka's back three.
- The centre-forward duel pits two 190cm targets against each other. Fukuoka's Wellyk Popo, a 24-year-old Brazilian who was top scorer at the Copa Sao Paulo and arrived via Red Bull Bragantino and Fagiano Okayama, wins his battles through sheer power. Cerezo's Solomon Sakuragawa, 25 and listed at 190cm and 91kg, came through the JEF United Chiba academy and sharpened his finishing at Okayama and Yokohama FC. With both strikers built for hold-up play, second balls will dictate the rhythm.
- Fukuoka meet that aerial threat with height of their own. Kennedy Ebuehi Mikuni, 26, anchors the central slot at 193cm, a national high school champion with Aomori Yamada who broke through at Nagoya Grampus before returning to Fukuoka. To his right is 185cm Teppei Oka, 24, on loan from FC Tokyo since January 2026 with the deal extended to June 2027. On the left is left-footed centre-back Yuma Tsujioka, hardened by spells at Iwaki FC and Giravanz Kitakyushu.
- Cerezo's back three is built for playing out. Shinnosuke Hatanaka, 30, was an ever-present in Yokohama F. Marinos' 2019 title season and is comfortable with either foot despite being naturally right-footed. Reoto Inoue, 29, worked his way up from Gainare Tottori through Fagiano Okayama and a promotion campaign with Kyoto Sanga. Dion Cools, 30, is a Malaysia international who won the Belgian title with Club Brugge and brings 185cm of aerial presence to the right side.
- Midfield control could swing the match. Fukuoka pair Yuya Miki, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder who wore No.10 for Tokyo Verdy during their promotion push, with Masato Shigemi, a 24-year-old from Fukuoka University known for ball retention and vision, while Kai Maeda from Kanagawa University is also in the XI. Cerezo counter with 183cm holding midfielder Shunta Tanaka, 29, distributing from deep, and 165cm Kosei Okazawa, 22, buzzing around him.
- The benches carry real weight too. Fukuoka can call on 34-year-old Oriol Romeu, who made 256 appearances across Barcelona, Chelsea and Southampton, plus Shintaro Nago, who scored five goals in 36 J1 games for Kashima Antlers in 2024, ball-winner Keiya Shiihashi and Tatsuki Nara, the 32-year-old defensive leader of Fukuoka's 2023 League Cup triumph. Cerezo have Lucas Fernandes, a two-time J.League assist king, and Kyohei Noborizato, 35, after 15 years at Kawasaki Frontale.