Nelsinho Baptista Tactics At Kashiwa Reysol 2020 – Tactical Analysis

One side that will be interesting to see how they perform over the course of the 2020 J1 League season is last season’s J2 League champions, Kashiwa Reysol. Having claimed the top spot in Japan’s second division over 2019 with an impressive 84 points, five points clear of Yokohama FC, they will be hoping to acclimatise quickly.

A convincing 4-2 victory over last season’s tenth-place-finishing Consadole Sapporo on the opening game of the season will certainly have been a confidence booster, with the side sitting second after one game.

However, one game does not make or break a season, and consistency will be needed from the side relegated to the J2 League in 2017.

This tactical analysis will dissect the key tactics of Kashiwa Reysol that were on show in the opening league game of the season. The scout report will also use analysis to show how these tactics will play a key feature over the remainder of the season.

Ataru Esaka’s key role in the hole

For the way in which Nelsinho Baptista’s side play, three players play key roles for Reysol which keep the side ticking. One of these key roles is performed by the attack-minded midfielder, Ataru Esaka. On opening day, in the 4-2 victory, Baptista deployed his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a formation sporadically used last season. However, towards the latter stages of the term 4-1-4-1, 4-4-1-1, and 4-4-2 were predominantly used. In the 4-2-3-1 system, though, Esaka plays in the traditional number ten role.

What is so vital in this role for Esaka is his ability to find open space and simply drift into the correct areas while his side are in possession. This is essential for Reysol, as it often provides players under pressure and looking to advance up the pitch with an out-ball. This seems almost effortless to the Japanese midfielder and as the two goals for Esaka proved against Consadole Sapporo, his movement is very effective.

As can be seen here in the build-up to Reysol netting the first goal of the game, Esaka has again found himself open space – this time, in ‘the hole’. From here, an attacking midfielder worth their salt should be deadly and the 27-year-old is in this situation. He receives possession, keeps his cool, evades one defender and slots home.