Struggling Cerezo face stern test against resilient Fagiano (Cerezo Osaka vs Fagiano Okayama prediction) | OneFootball

Cerezo Osaka Face Critical Test Against In-Form Fagiano Okayama

Cerezo Osaka will be desperate to turn their faltering season around when they host Fagiano Okayama at Yodoko Sakura Stadium on Wednesday evening in a crucial J1 League clash.

Arthur Papas' side find themselves languishing in 17th place with just one win from seven matches, while visitors Fagiano have adapted impressively to life in Japan's top flight following their promotion.

Cerezo's Struggles Continue

Despite significant investment in the January transfer window that saw the arrivals of Thiago Andrade from Toronto FC and Shinnosuke Hatanaka from Yokohama F. Marinos, Cerezo have failed to find consistency. Their record of one win, three draws and three losses tells the story of a team struggling for identity.

The hosts' defensive frailties have been particularly concerning, though they did manage to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Urawa in their previous outing. Their cause hasn't been helped by injuries to key defenders, with Kyohei Noborizato sidelined with a hamstring problem and Ryosuke Shindo nursing a thigh strain.

One bright spot has been the form of Sota Kitano, who has contributed four goals and one assist in seven appearances, establishing himself as the team's most reliable attacking threat.

Fagiano Finding Their Feet

In stark contrast, Fagiano Okayama have made an impressive start to life in J1, collecting three wins and two draws from their opening seven fixtures. Their disciplined defensive approach has yielded impressive results, including a notable 1-0 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos last time out.

Coach T. Kiyama has built a resilient unit around goalkeeper Svend Brodersen, while Brazilian forward Lucão provided the decisive moment against Marinos with his first goal of the season.

The visitors will be without Kazuki Saito and Tomohiko Miyazaki, both sidelined with thigh injuries, but their squad depth has proven sufficient to navigate such absences thus far.

Key Battle: Kitano vs Fagiano's Defence

Cerezo's hopes likely rest on the shoulders of Kitano, whose goalscoring prowess has been one of few positives in their campaign. However, he'll face a stern test against a Fagiano defence that has demonstrated remarkable organisation and discipline.

The creative influence of Rafael Ratão, who boasts two goals and an impressive 85.59% passing accuracy, could be crucial in unlocking the visitors' stubborn backline.

For Fagiano, the combination of Lucão's attacking threat and Ataru Esaka's midfield creativity presents a significant challenge to Cerezo's vulnerable defence.

Prediction

With Cerezo desperate for points and playing at home, they'll likely adopt a proactive approach. However, Fagiano's defensive solidity and counter-attacking threat make them dangerous opponents.

The pressure is mounting on Papas, who needs a result to ease concerns about Cerezo's league position. Meanwhile, Fagiano arrive with confidence following their victory over Yokohama F. Marinos.

Given Cerezo's defensive issues and Fagiano's organised approach, the visitors appear well-positioned to secure at least a point.

Predicted Score: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Fagiano Okayama