Vissel Kobe are set to play Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Japan National Stadium on Saturday.
The home side are currently fourth in the J1 League with 42 points from 24 games, while Tottenham finished fifth with 66 points in the Premier League last term.
Match preview
Vissel Kobe's 2024 campaign is still ongoing, with the J1 League champions currently fourth in their division and seven points behind leaders Machida Zelvia.
With 14 games remaining, the home side are averaging 1.75 points per game in the league, and this is a sizeable drop from the 2.09 points per game they averaged in the 2023 season.
Ushi have scored 37 goals and conceded 21 times so far, and this makes them the top flight's joint fourth-best offensive and third-best defensive team respectively.
Manager Takayuki Yoshida has been in charge since June 2022 and previously played for Vissel Kobe between 2008 and 2013.
Considering Yoshida's side finished 13th in 2022, his title winning campaign in 2023 was an impressive feat.
Spurs have already played two pre-season games, but their tour of Asia will begin on Saturday before they play the K-League All Stars on July 31.
Tottenham started life under manager Ange Postecoglou well, with the team winning eight of their first 10 Premier League fixtures and drawing the other two.
This strong early-season form saw some predict that Spurs could challenge for the title, but injuries to key players such as James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, as well as poor performances from several members of the squad, meant that this form dissipated quickly.
Postecoglou's team ended the season with five losses from their last seven matches, but regardless of that poor form, fans are rather optimistic for the season ahead.
Indeed, with an entertaining and at times breathtaking style of play, Spurs have always been exciting to watch under the Australian.
With Spurs' ambitious moves for the likes of Archie Gray, who is highly regarded and touted to have immense potential, there is every chance that Tottenham can improve on last season's showing.
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Team News
Vissel Kobe will be without defensive midfielder Mitsuki Saito, who has not played since August 2023 due to a torn lateral knee ligament, although he is expected back in late August this year.
Right-back Gotoku Sakai has not played since June 30 as a result of a broken foot and is not scheduled to return until September.
As for Tottenham, defender Radu Dragusin has joined the squad after returning from Euro 2024.
Richarlison has been named in Spurs' travelling squad despite not playing since May 5 due to injury, as well as links with a move away to the Saudi Pro League.
Summer signing Lucas Bergvall was forced off with an injury last time out against Queens Park Rangers, but Postecoglou has said that he does not believe the issue is particularly serious.
Bergvall was in fact pictured training in Japan, as was defender Ben Davies, who has not featured for Spurs since their 3-2 loss to Arsenal on May 28.
Left-back Destiny Udogie was also named in Tottenham's squad for their tour of Asia, but given he underwent surgery to his left quadriceps in April, the potential for his return on Saturday is not certain.
Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:
Maekawa; Hirose, Yamakawa, Thuler, Hatsuse; Ideguchi, Ogihara, Sasaki; Muto, Osako, Patric
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Austin; Porro, Skipp, Dragusin, Donley; Kulusevski, Gray, Bissouma; Maddison, Son, Werner
We say: Vissel Kobe 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Postecoglou has named relatively strong XIs in his side's pre-season friendlies so far, and should he do so again on Saturday, then Tottenham should have enough quality to win.
Additionally, Dragusin's return to the team could bolster both defence and midfield if Gray is moved into the middle of the pitch as a result.
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