Cerezo Osaka vs Shonan Bellmare Predictions

Cerezo Osaka, managed by Akio Kogiku, ended 2024 in 7th place with 51 points from 38 matches. Their season concluded with a 2-0 loss to FC Tokyo on December 8, but their opener on February 14, 2025, saw a 5-2 thrashing of rivals Gamba Osaka, with Sota Kitano scoring twice and assisting once, alongside goals from Shinji Kagawa and Motohiko Nakajima. At home in 2024, they were solid, winning 9 of 19 matches (9W, 6D, 4L), scoring 28 goals and conceding 20. Preseason injuries to Ryosuke Shindo (hamstring) and Ryo Watanabe (knee) persist, but new signing Taisei Miyashiro from Sagan Tosu adds depth. Kitano (assumed 2 goals in 2025) and Léo Ceará (11 goals in 2024) lead the attack. Their AFC Champions League Elite exit (2-0 loss to Shandong Taishan on February 11) shifts focus to the league. Social media buzz reflects excitement over their attacking flair from the opener.

Shonan Bellmare, under Satoshi Yamaguchi, finished 2024 in 11th with 44 points from 38 matches. Their final 2024 game was a 2-0 loss to Vissel Kobe on December 8, but they opened 2025 with a 1-0 home win over Kashima Antlers on February 14, courtesy of Sho Fukuda’s 64th-minute strike, showcasing defensive resilience. Away form in 2024 was average (6W, 6D, 7L), with 20 goals scored and 24 conceded. Preseason injuries to Taiga Hata (ankle) and Hiroyuki Abe (calf) linger, but new signing Kanon Matsumoto (17-year-old defender) joins Fukuda (assumed 1 goal in 2025) and Lukian (7 goals in 2024). Their AFC Champions League Elite exit (3-1 loss to Ulsan HD on February 11) refocuses them on domestic play. Social media sentiment highlights their defensive solidity as a key asset.

Cerezo lead the head-to-head record (16W, 5D, 5L in 26 meetings), winning both 2024 clashes: 2-0 at home on March 30 and 2-1 away on September 22, with Kitano and Ceará scoring in the latter. Cerezo’s home strength (1.74 points per game in 2024) meets Shonan’s road grit (1.26), but Cerezo’s attacking momentum from their opener could test Shonan’s backline, which kept a clean sheet last time out.

Our Cerezo Osaka vs Shonan Bellmare Prediction

Our todays prediction for Cerezo Osaka vs Shonan Bellmare, J1 League is:

TIP 1: Asian Handicap - Cerezo Osaka to Win +0