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Start of J-League Season
- Details
- 22 February 2021
- Published: Monday, 22 February 2021 12:25
The J-league will begin on Friday, February 26 with an expansion to 20 teams. The new entrants are the Tokushima Vortis and the Wasp Fukuoka.
Tokushima achieved promotion to the J1 League thanks to the continuity of a project that began four years ago. It is the first time that Tokushima appears in the first Japanese league, with this promotion they will see Vissel Kobe in the Derby of the Strait.
Spanish coach Ricardo Rodríguez leaves Tokushima to join Urawa Reds, a very irregular team, situated in the middle part of the table without any possible goal.
Avispa Fukuoka has been able to return to the top flight after 10 years thanks to the great performance last season.
Kawasaki are the current league champions with an 18-point advantage over Gamba Osaka. These teams will once again be a benchmark this season thanks to their good structural work and their competitive squads.
Nagoya Grampus will have it more difficult to repeat the level demonstrated last year, finishing third in the table and qualifying for the AFC Champions League.
Despite winning the Emperor's Cup in 2019, Vissel Kobe are on the decline, ending the season on a rocky note with a shattered team. They have a tough job ahead of them to get a competitive team again, the renewal has already begun within the club.
Without relegation in the previous season, several teams have escaped losing the category. In this season no team should relax as they will be relegated 4 directly.
Shonan, Shimizu, Vegalta Sendai or Yokohama FC are candidates to be placed in the red zone of the table. His numbers in the 2020 season were worrying.
The opening match of the 2021 season will be played between Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama Marinos at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, in an interesting encounter with two classics from the Japanese league.