Predicted Lineups - J1 League 2022 for Sorare - GW246

Intro

I will be doing predicted lineups for the Japanese J1 League for each GW. These lineups will be made from information I gather from:

• Press conferences/interviews with the manager

• Training information

• Suspension lists

• Lineups from last year if same manager

I will be updating the blog as and when I get information and giving a % for my confidence the player will start.

I know from general experience with monitoring lineups across all leagues on sorare, information can drop right up to the deadline (eg a positive corona case of a player a few hours before the deadline). So I will be in general updating the lineup prediction the day after the GW opens and then updating it again the day of the deadline.

I will also be providing betting odds where available, such as:

• % chance of win

GW 245 and 246 will be the first weekend of J1 League football. I will be using the first couple of weeks to gather information, especially from new teams and where managers have changed. Another added complication is covid. Although teams will notify us about new cases, they will not stipulate who has it which can lead to some surprise DNPs.

I am not expecting to be anywhere near perfect with these lineups and hope to improve as time goes on. The main aim is to illustrate where I see risk and what kind of opportunities there are each GW. I will be doing strategy guides and explaining how I set my teams in future weeks once I find a groove :)

Let me know if you have any feedback or things you would like to see. I plan to keep this free for the time being though plan to move parts of the site to a paid section of the site in March.

Yokahama F Marinos vs Cerezo Osaka

Yokahama F Marinos Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 65%

Most likely to play - Takaoka, Hatano, Eduardo, Kida, M.Junior, Cera

Combos - Takaoka & Hatanaka/Eduardo

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

From the training camp, it was reported Cera is looking good so I expect him to start. Anderson Lopes has been tested on left wing and striker position, he could start too, for me I prefer him as a striker with Nakagawa on the wing.

M.Junior is the most certain starter of the forwards.

In defence, Nagato picked up an injury in training camp and its still unknown if hes fit enough to start. Koike is flexible so could well see him playing as left back with Matsubara as right back.

CBs i expect the new partnership of Hatanaka and Eduardo to make their debut with Takaoka in nets.

Cerezo Osaka Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 18%

Most likely to play - Kim Jin Hyeon, Shindo, Nishio, Kiyotake, Harakawa, B,Mendes

Combos - Kiyotake & B. Mendes

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

I havent seen Taggart in training pics so it looks like hes not read to play yet. I expect Mendes to play.

There is a shortage on right wing with the delay with Jean Patric entering the country, I expect either Nakahara or Uejo to start or push up to just behind Mendes.

Kiyotake and Harakawa will v likely start and Okuno with his versitility can slot in too.

At the back, Shindo and new captain Nishio will likely start. Jonjic signed yeterday but wont be able to play in this game.

Match Prediction

I see this as a comfortable victory for Yokohama FM, I feel that there team has the right balance and will have too much quality for C. Osaka. Even if Lopes doesnt start, he will be an excellent sub to bring on.

The C.Osaka team lacks some balance, especially on the right and will be reliant on the older/experienced legs of Kiyotake and Harakawa to be on fire to get anything from this game.

Yokohama FM 2- 0 Cerezo Osaka

Shimizu S Pulse vs Hokkaido Sapporo

Shimizu S Pulse Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 37%

Most likely to play - Gonda, Suzuki, Matsuoka, Nishizawa, Satanta

Combos - Gonda & Suzuki

COVID Cases - 1 reported

Notes

I havent seen C.Junior in trainig pics. He was in quarantine until recently and I cant see him starting. Nishizawa and Matsuoka were made DCMs recently and they will play.

Santana has been working hard to return to match fitness after joining late, I expect him to start with Y.Suzuki behind him.

Hokkaido Sapporo Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 39.5%

Most likely to play - Fukumori, Miyazawa, Tanaka, Takamine, Fernandes, Komai, Kaneko

Combos - Tanaka and Fukumori

COVID Cases - 1 reported

Notes

I expect Xavier to start as he has had a good preseason. I expect Koroki to start up front but he may well start from the bench

I still see Sugeno as keeper, though this game will confirm the situation there too with a potential u23 keeper waiting in the wings

Match Prediction

I can see this being a tight game with plenty of goals and action. I have been impressed by the off season footage of Sapporo I have seen and can Xavier being the difference for them in a narrow win

Shimizu S Pulse 1 Hokkaido Sapporo 2

Kyoto Sanga vs Urawa Reds

Kyoto Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 22.3%

Most likely to play - Matsuda, Iida, Asada, Utaka

COVID Cases - 1 reported

Notes

This is Kyotos first game since being promoted to the J1 league this year. The cards are not yet available on sorare however the keeper situation is one of particular interest as Kamigukumoto (ex Tokushima) does have a card. However I expect Wakahara to start here.

Urawa Reds Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 55%

Most likely to play - Nishikawa, Scholz, Akimoto, Sakai, Ito, Esaka,

Combos - Nishikawa and Iwananmi

COVID Cases - 3+ reported

Notes

There are a number of unknowns for Urawa, in particular who currently has Covid. Matsuo and Koizumi both missed the Super Cup last week and I havent seen them back in training.

Junker I have seen, though its not guaranteed he will start as I am not 100% why he wasnt in the squad.

I have done the %s based on the assumption these players are available. However, it is somewhat a lottery who could be missing.

Please also not the below info I found. I have not yet confirmed what this means/how high the risk is

Match Prediction

I was highly impressed by Urawa last week and can see them controlling the game and winning comfortably. The covid cases and who they effect could make a big difference to Urawa, however, they have the depth in their squad to be able to bring in quality cover to whoever is needed.

For sorare, I will be using all my Urawa players in 1 team to manage the risk of 1) the game being cancelled 2) my players being DNP due to having covid.

Kyoto 0 Urawa Reds 2

Gamba Osaka vs Kashima Antlers

Gamba Osaka Predicted Lineup

I highly suggest looking at this blog for an additional preview of this game

Odds

• Win - 25%

Most likely to play - Higashiguchi, Shoji, Miura, Kurata, Usami

Combos - Higashiguchi & Shoji

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

Kwon Kyung-won is not available for this game due to visa issues so I can see Fukouka playing instead.

Perrira is back in training and I cant see him being fit enought to start.

Kashima Antlers Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 54%

Most likely to play - Min Tae, Sekigawa, Misao, Suzuki, Anzai

Combos - Araki + Suzuki

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

I find the Antlers team very hard to predict with any confidence in a lot of spots, especially the keeper and attackers.

I feel Kwoun will start this game based on the preseason training. As an owner of Oki, I would be delighted to be proven wrong here! With the manager still not in the country, I see them playing it safe with Kwoun.

Up front, I find it difficult to fit Araki, Ueda and Suzuki in a balanced team. Ueda didnt play the last practice game so may well not be match fit. Suzuki I see as a def starter and for me, Araki needs to play too but for the sake of the balance of the team, could be benched.

I have Higuchi starting over Alano but thats another position will be fiercely fough after all season

Match Prediction

This is a game I see being a lot closer than the bookies are predicting. Antlers historically struggle on the first game of the season and had a disjoined off season with a manager out of the country.

I have a feeling this could be somewhat of a "surprise" result and it being a draw.

Gamba 1 Kashima Antlers 1

Nagoya vs Vissel Kobe

Nagoya Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 38%

Most likely to play - Langerak, Nakatani, Yoshida, Inagaki, Mateus

Combos - Langerak & Nakatani

COVID Cases - Reported at start of camp, should be ok now

Notes

First game in charge with a new manager and without their main striker (Jakub) means there are alot of unknows here.

Maruyama is not currently fit and training seperately. Tiago should should up with Nakatani but Fuji has impressed in camp.

Sento has also received praise so I see him starting. I am unsure what the formation will be, can easily see Kakitani playing here to but have opted for new signing Sakai to face off against his brother

Vissel Kobe Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 36%

Most likely to play - Makino, Kikuchi, Sakai, Hatsuse, Iniesta, Yamaguchi, Muto

Combos - Kikuchi + Sakai

COVID Cases - 1 case reported

Notes

The saga around who will start in nets for Vissel will finally be resolved this weekend (touch wood!) I am still unsure who will start. If both are fit, I feel Iikura gets the nod. I have recently not seen him in training and know that there 1 covid case. It could be him, it may well not be. For me, I am not playing either keeper this gameweek as I am not confident either way and know how a single DNP can kill a SO5 team

Outside this, I expect Makino to link up with Kikuchi for the first time and a similar looking team that ended last season

Match Prediction

Nagoya have been particularly private with their pre season (and that saying something!). I feel they lack a true striker and although I am a big fan of their wingers and attacking, I feel like they will struggle against well organised teams like Vissel

Nagoya 0 Vissel 1

Sanfreece Hiroshima vs Sagan Tosu

Sanfreece Hiroshima Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 51%

Most likely to play - Sasaki, Araki, Santos, Esqueil

Combos - Sasaki & Araki

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

Similar to the Kashima situation, the new manager has not been able to join the team for off season. How much this effects plans is unknown but its certainly not idea.

The keeper situation is again of interest to Sorare managers and I see Osako starting here though, again, they could go with the safe and experienced hands of Hayashi.

Morishima is back from long term injury but im not sure of his match fitness for this game.

Sagan Tosu Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 25%

Most likely to play - Park Gyu, Nakano, Fujita, Nakano, Miyasiro

Combos - Fujita & Miyashiro

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

The team with most changes in the off season has been Sagan Tosu. They have lost a number of big players and replaced them with experienced quality like Fujita and lots of exciting young talent like Miyashiro.

Its quite not certain how they will line up, watch out for the lineups as plenty of u23 players who could be v effective in sorare

Match Prediction

I can see Hiroshima winning this relatively comfortably. They are an experienced unit which will be able to control the game. However, I also feel the odds are a little unfair on Sagan and they have some great attacking options which I can see causing trouble for Hiroshima

Hiroshima 2 Sagan Tosu 1

Avispa Fukuoka vs Jubilo Iwata

Avispa Fukoka Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 45%

Most likely to play - Murakama, Groli, Shichi, Mae, Tanaka, Lukian

Combos - Tanaka & Lukian/Yamagishi

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

Very excited to see how Tanaka gets on after his transfer to Fukuoka, he and Lukian could link up very well this season.

Yamagishi has been injured long term and should be back for this game.

Iwata Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 30.6%

Most likely to play - Sugimoto, Endo, Otsu

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

The other newly promoted team is Iwata. It is also another one that dont have cards yet on Sorare outside a few players that transferred in. This includes the goalkeeper spot which is being fought out by 3 candidates. Off season saw all three get some gametime so im keeping an eye out on the lineups for this one.

Sugimoto will lead the line for the club and as he was previously at Urawa does have some cards available.

Match Prediction

Fukuokas off season has impressed me and I think that Tanaka and Lukian could turn out to be excellent buys. I can see this being a comfortable win for Fukuoka to kick of their campaign.

Im particularly looking forward to watching Endo for Iwata in this game as he is a legend!

Fukuoka 2 Iwata 1

Shonan Bellmare vs Kashiwa Reysol

Shonan Bellmare Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 36%

Most likely to play - Tani, Tanaka, Hata, Yonemoto

Combos - Tani & Tachi

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

Yonemoto was an excellent capture for Iwata and I see him doing well this season.

There is an expectation that Segawa could also start but im not sure what the setup would be if he plays.

Up front, Machino could play instead of Ohashi. Also interested to see what role youngster Tanaka plays, he was playing a mix of DCM and CB last year.

Kashiwa Predicted Lineup

Odds

• Win - 38%

Most likely to play - Seung Gyu, Koga, Ominami, M. Savio, Douglas

Combos - Koga and Seung Gyu

COVID Cases - None reported

Notes

Seung Gyu missed the last training game but has been training and should start.

Upfront Douglas will make his debut for the team and Koyamatsu should start too.

Match Prediction

I worry for both these teams this year. Shonan really struggled with scoring last year and I can see that continuing. Kashiwa have lost Cristano and will be reliant on Douglas to hit the road running.

I can see this being a game lacking quality and ending in a scrappy 1-1

Shonan 1 Kashiwa 1

Finish

I hope you found this useful!

Remember this is just a guide based on the info I have. I have tried to keep it neutral but of course there will be bias at play. As I have said previously, I want this to be helpful to you in managing risk rather than picking the right player where its a 50/50 flip.

If you spot anything glaringly wrong (eg an injury or suspended player), do let me know!

Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions of other players :)

I am always more than happy to talk things J1 League & Sorare on twitter or Discord

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