Yamagata's high recoveries can feed quick attacks into the wide channels. Sapporo have a direct outlet into Omori, whose next pass can open a different route through midfield. The second ball and the following run into the box should decide which attack gets repeated chances.
Under Yokouchi, Yamagata have pushed up to regain possession and used Nakamura and Doi to send Sugii and the other fullback forward toward Takahashi. Their recent pressure has produced shots and box entries, though the final touch has lagged behind that supply. Sapporo have recently gone longer into Omori, then used Kido's switch and Aoki's carry to get behind the advancing wide players.
That puts Yamagata's first press against Omori's hold-up and the race for his layoff. Yamagata's left-side deliveries also test a Sapporo defence that has conceded goals from crosses and short passing. Restarts bring another contest for the first header and the loose ball: Sapporo have scored from them, while Yamagata have conceded from them.
The availability picture is recent. Morioka went off injured against Fujieda and Lee Dong-Hee completed that match; Kumamoto and Nishimura are also sidelined, leaving the central cover under pressure. Sapporo were without the injured Shirai against Akita, yet Omori, Kido and Aoki played together and supplied the winning goal.
Yamagata should press early and keep sending runners toward Takahashi. Sapporo's way through is to reach Omori beyond that first pressure, win the next ball and release Aoki into the space behind the fullbacks. That current attacking connection, matched against Yamagata's central cover and uneven finishing, is why I'm siding with Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
