J1 League 2020: Shonan Bellmare vs Shimizu S-Pulse – tactical analysis

So far during the 2020 J1 League season, supporters of both Shonan Bellmare and Shimizu S-Pulse have had little to shout about in terms of results on the pitch, as both are enduring difficult campaigns.

Heading into the latest round of matches, the Hiratsuka and Shimizu-ku clubs sat at the foot of the table, on nine points, only separated by Shonan Bellmare’s superior goal difference.

While S-Pa had been defeated in all of their six previous matches prior to the encounter at the Shonan BMW Stadium Hiratsuka, the hosts had picked up five points in their previous three matches and beaten Gamba Osaka in their last outing.

However, the resulting 3-0 victory for the visitors put paid to any hopes of Shonan Bellmare putting together a string of impressive results.

This tactical analysis will highlight the key tactics which were on show in the clash between the two Japanese clubs and use analysis to explain how they had an impact on the match’s outcome.

Lineups

For the clash, the two sides opted for fairly similar-looking lineups, with Bin Ukishima deploying the hosts in a slightly more attacking 3-5-2 starting system. The Japanese gaffer deployed the same system in that 1-0 victory over Gamba Osaka the weekend prior to S-Pa’s visit.

Meanwhile, in the away dugout, Australian manager Peter Cklamovski lined his side up in a slightly more defensive version on the same theme with a 5-3-2 starting formation. Cklamovski perhaps opted for this system to match up with Shonan Bellmare as in their previous match – a 3-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos – Shimizu S-Pulse lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.