Emperor's Cup Fourth Round: Shonan Bellmare Fearless Against Powerhouses, Vissel Kobe Shifts Focus to the Cup

The Emperor's Cup continues this week, with the fourth round set to kick off on the evening of August 21st. Shonan Bellmare, despite being a relegation-threatened team, has never shied away from challenging stronger opponents. Just recently, they defeated the league leaders, Machida Zelvia, in the J1 League. Throughout the season, they have consistently managed to outshoot their opponents, even when facing tough teams like Gamba Osaka. As they head into the cup competition, it's expected that Shonan will again put up a strong fight against their more illustrious adversaries.

On the other side, Vissel Kobe, who faces an uphill battle to retain their league title, might see the Emperor's Cup as an opportunity to salvage their season with a potential surprise victory.

Gamba Osaka vs. Shonan Bellmare - Relaxed Mindsets

Both Gamba Osaka and Shonan Bellmare find themselves in situations in the league that demand significant attention. This inevitably places immense pressure on both teams. However, when it comes to the cup, they may opt to make adjustments to their starting line-ups, depending on how their coaches choose to balance their priorities.

Gamba Osaka, despite earning only three points from their last four matches, still sits just six points behind Machida Zelvia at the top of the table. With 11 rounds remaining in the league, and considering the instability shown by other title contenders, Gamba remains very much in the hunt to challenge Machida for the championship.

Shonan Bellmare, on the other hand, has seen a remarkable upturn in form since July, winning four out of their last six league games, a feat that surpasses their total number of victories from the previous 21 rounds combined. This surge in form has lifted them out of the relegation zone, but only by a slim margin—they currently lead the relegation spots by just one point. The specter of relegation looms large over the team, much like last season. Shonan’s recent form, while impressive, is unlikely to be sustainable over the long haul, and it's equally improbable that their relegation rivals will continue to struggle. As it stands, only the bottom-dweller, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, seems to have little hope of avoiding the drop.

In their previous encounter, Gamba Osaka took on the reigning champions and current title challengers, Vissel Kobe. Despite trailing twice, Gamba fought back to secure a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time. Gamba's head coach, Josep Poatillos, praised the fighting spirit of his players, while the team’s attacking talisman, Takashi Usami, expressed confidence that the younger players will grow from this experience.

Conversely, Shonan Bellmare's form dipped in their last league outing, as they suffered a home defeat to relegation rivals Kashiwa Reysol. This came as a surprise, especially considering Shonan had just defeated league leaders Machida Zelvia in the previous round. Kashiwa, sitting above Shonan in the standings, seized the early initiative, showing greater urgency in their fight for survival. However, Kashiwa played smartly, soaking up Shonan’s pressure before launching their counterattacks, ultimately leading to Shonan's defeat.

The two teams have already faced each other twice in the league this season, with both winning one match apiece. However, in both matches, Shonan was the more proactive side. Given this history, it’s expected that both teams will field strong starting line-ups in the cup, with each likely playing at around 20% of their capacity during regular time. If the match goes into extra time, Gamba’s home advantage could prove decisive.

Kashiwa Reysol vs. Vissel Kobe - A Shift in Focus

In the second match-up, Kashiwa Reysol will take on Vissel Kobe. Interestingly, both teams faced different opponents in the league last weekend, only to find themselves squaring off in the cup this time around.

Kashiwa Reysol enters this game on the back of a crucial league victory over Shonan Bellmare. This win has extended their lead over the relegation zone to five points. Their star striker, Mao Hosoya, scored the decisive goal in the second half, marking his return to top form after his campaign in the Paris Olympics. This rejuvenation of their key striker significantly boosts Kashiwa’s survival hopes in the J1 League.

Vissel Kobe, on the other hand, have struggled to maintain consistency in their title defense. After being pegged back by Gamba Osaka in the dying moments of their last match, they have now managed just one win in their last five games. As a result, their chances of retaining the league title are diminishing rapidly.

One of the key issues for Vissel Kobe this season has been their defensive frailties. With 11 games remaining in the league, they have already conceded nearly as many goals as they did in the entirety of last season. Interestingly, Vissel’s defensive personnel have remained largely unchanged, suggesting that the root cause of their struggles may lie in the aging of their midfield, leading to a sharp decline in their overall defensive capabilities.

In recent years, Kashiwa Reysol has often had the upper hand in their direct encounters with Vissel Kobe. Even during Vissel’s title-winning campaign last season, Kashiwa managed to hold them to draws on both occasions. This season, Kashiwa has already beaten Vissel in the league. However, with Vissel’s league title hopes fading, they are likely to place greater emphasis on the cup, while Kashiwa, still deeply embroiled in a relegation battle, may treat this match as a mere formality. It’s expected that Vissel will operate at around 20% of their full capacity, while Kashiwa might only muster 10%.

As the Emperor’s Cup reaches its latter stages, both Gamba Osaka and Vissel Kobe will be looking to advance while managing their priorities in the league. Shonan Bellmare and Kashiwa Reysol, both fighting for survival in the J1 League, will approach the cup with different levels of intensity. These matches are set to provide intriguing tactical battles as teams juggle their ambitions in both domestic competitions.