The big picture

Cerezo Osaka come in 11th on the ladder with 17 points; FC Tokyo are 1st on 33. FC Tokyo are the side higher up the table.

Cerezo Osaka are 15–12–6 in J1 League 2026, averaging 1.3 goals for and 1.4 against.

FC Tokyo are 23–7–4 in J1 League 2026, averaging 1.9 goals for and 0.9 against.

Form

Cerezo Osaka have won zero of their last five and most recently lost to Kashima Antlers 1–4.

FC Tokyo have won four of their last five and most recently beat Kashima Antlers 2–0.

FC Tokyo arrive on a 3-game winning streak.

Head to head

These sides have met 10 times on our records since 2022: Cerezo Osaka 2, FC Tokyo 4, 4 drawn.

Last time out (2026, 2nd Leg - Cerezo Osaka advance 5-3 on aggregate), Cerezo Osaka won 3–1 at Japan National Stadium.

Biggest margin between these two: FC Tokyo by 4 goals in 2022 (4–0).

Players to watch

For Cerezo Osaka, watch Soromon Sakuragawa (0.4 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026) and Thiago (0.3 goals a game in 2026).

For FC Tokyo, watch Marcelo Ryan (0.4 goals a game, 6 assists in 2026) and Motoki Nagakura (0.4 goals a game, 4 assists in 2026).

At Yodoko Sakura Stadium

Cerezo Osaka have won 9 of their last 17 at Yodoko Sakura Stadium.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, FC Tokyo go in as clear favourites.