Fukui's revenge? Keeper faces emotional reunion with former club (Cerezo Osaka vs Machida Zelvia prediction) | OneFootball

Cerezo Osaka vs Machida Zelvia: Former Keeper Fukui Set for Emotional Reunion

Cerezo Osaka will be looking to climb out of their mid-table position when they host Machida Zelvia at Yodoko Sakura Stadium on Tuesday in what promises to be an intriguing J1 League encounter.

Form Guide

Arthur Papas' Cerezo side currently sit 15th in the table with just three wins from their opening 12 matches. Their recent form has been patchy at best, with only one victory in their last five league outings. A disappointing 1-0 defeat to Tokyo Verdy last time out highlighted their ongoing struggles to convert possession into points.

Meanwhile, Machida Zelvia occupy 11th place but arrive in poor form themselves, having lost three consecutive matches. After a promising start to the campaign, Go Kuroda's men have lost momentum, most recently falling to a 1-0 home defeat against Shonan Bellmare.

Key Battle: Fukui Faces Former Club

The match carries extra significance for Cerezo goalkeeper Koki Fukui, who will face his former employers for the first time since his January move. Having spent eight seasons at Machida, including their promotion to J1, Fukui has already become a fan favourite at his new club.

"There's definitely extra motivation when you play against your old team," said a Cerezo insider. "Fukui has been warmly embraced by our supporters and will be determined to keep a clean sheet."

Tactical Analysis

Cerezo's technical approach under Papas has been evident all season. They dominated possession (75%) against Tokyo Verdy but lacked cutting edge in the final third. Brazilian playmaker Lucas Fernandes, last season's assist leader in J1, remains their creative fulcrum with four assists already this campaign.

In attack, Rafael Ratão and Sota Kitano have contributed four goals each, though Cerezo's conversion rate has been a persistent issue.

Machida present a completely different proposition. Kuroda's side are known for their physicality, aerial prowess and dangerous set-pieces – particularly their long throws. Their direct 3-4-2-1 system relies on quick transitions and the goalscoring threat of Takuma Nishimura (4 goals) and Yuki Soma (2 goals, 3 assists).

Recent History

Cerezo have unfinished business with Machida, having failed to beat them last season. The clubs drew one match and Machida won the other, while also eliminating Cerezo from the League Cup playoffs.

"There's definitely a revenge element to this fixture," admitted a Cerezo official. "Our players remember those results well."

Injury Concerns

Both sides have defensive concerns. Cerezo's Kyohei Noborizato suffered a hamstring injury earlier in the year, while Machida have been dealing with centre-back issues since losing both Ryuho Kikuchi and Daihachi Okamura to injuries in their season opener.

Prediction

This match pits Cerezo's possession-based approach against Machida's more direct style. Cerezo's technical quality should see them dominate the ball, but they'll need to be wary of Machida's set-piece threat and counter-attacking capabilities.

With Fukui motivated against his former club and Cerezo desperate to convert their possession into points, the home side might just edge this one in a tight contest.

Predicted Score: Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Machida Zelvia