2020 J1 League

The 2020 J1 League, also known as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J1リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was sixth season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1. The league began on 21 February and eventually ended on 19 December 2020. The league was planned to have a season break to avoid clashing with the 2020 Summer Olympics,[2] but the Olympics were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[3]

J1 League
Season2020
Dates21 February – 19 December 2020
ChampionsKawasaki Frontale (3rd title)
RelegatedNone
AFC Champions LeagueKawasaki Frontale
Gamba Osaka
Nagoya Grampus
Cerezo Osaka
Matches played306
Goals scored857 (2.8 per match)
Top goalscorerMichael Olunga
(28 goals)
Biggest home winUrawa Red Diamonds 6–0 Vegalta Sendai
(18 October 2020)
Biggest away winConsadole Sapporo 1–6 Kawasaki Frontale
(15 August 2020)
Highest scoringNagoya Grampus 6–2 Urawa Red Diamonds
(8 August 2020)
Yokohama F. Marinos 6–2 Urawa Red Diamonds
(14 November 2020)
Longest winning run12 matches
Kawasaki Frontale
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Kawasaki Frontale
Longest winless run17 matches
Vegalta Sendai
Longest losing run7 matches
Shimizu S-Pulse
Highest attendance34,521[1]
Yokohama F. Marinos 1–2 Gamba Osaka
(23 February 2020)
Lowest attendance1,948[1]
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4–1 Shimizu S-Pulse
(9 September 2020)
(excluding matches played behind closed doors)
Total attendance1,773,481[1]
Average attendance5,796[1]
(including matches played behind closed doors)
2019
2021

Yokohama F. Marinos were the defending champions while Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama FC entered the league as promoted teams from the 2019 J2 League, replacing Júbilo Iwata and Matsumoto Yamaga who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

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On 25 February, all J.League matches until 15 March were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[4] After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until 29 March.[5] On 19 March, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.[6] On 25 March, the league announced that it would be suspended 3 April to 6 May.[7]

On 3 April, the Japan Professional Football League decided to resume the league, gradually resumed J3 from 25 April, J2 from 2 May, and J1 from 9 May.[8] However the league was postponed again.

On 29 May, the JPFL decided to resume the season on 27 June.[9] The season is projected to resume on 4 July.[10] On 9 June, the JPFL announced the new schedule of the 2020 season.[11] On 15 June, it was announced that the first 2 matches in each league (J1, J2, and J3) would be held without spectators. After 10 July, as a general rule, the maximum number of people allowed is 5,000. The stadiums with less than 10,000 capacity would have up to 50% of the capacity. Away supporters are not allowed. After August, the maximum stadium capacity was 50%, and there would be "high alert spectator matches".[12]

After the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee meeting on 20 July, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" extended to 10 August in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.[13]

Clubs

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Greater Tokyo Area
Keihanshin
† Greater Tokyo teams
Locations of the 2020 J1 League teams

For the 2020 season, there were only two changes in the league. Kashiwa Reysol returned as the 2019 J2 League champions and Yokohama FC as runners-up after 13 seasons absence from the top tier of Japanese football. They replaced Matsumoto Yamaga (one season in J1) and Júbilo Iwata (four seasons in J1), who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.

Meanwhile, Shonan Bellmare remained in the J1 League after defeating Tokushima Vortis in the 2019 J2 League play-off final.

ClubLocationStadiumCapacityLast Season
Consadole SapporoHokkaidoSapporo Dome
Sapporo Atsubetsu Stadium
41,484
20,861
J1 (10th)
Vegalta SendaiMiyagi PrefectureYurtec Stadium Sendai19,694J1 (11th)
Kashima AntlersIbaraki PrefectureKashima Soccer Stadium40,728J1 (3rd)
Urawa Red DiamondsSaitama PrefectureSaitama Stadium 200263,700J1 (14th)
Kashiwa ReysolChiba PrefectureHitachi Kashiwa Stadium15,900 J2 (champions)
FC TokyoTokyoAjinomoto Stadium49,970J1 (2nd)
Yokohama FCKanagawa PrefectureMitsuzawa Stadium15,046 J2 (2nd)
Yokohama F. MarinosNissan Stadium72,327J1 (champions)
Shonan BellmareBMW Stadium Hiratsuka18,500J1 (16th)
Kawasaki FrontaleTodoroki Stadium26,232J1 (4th)
Shimizu S-PulseShizuoka PrefectureIAI Stadium20,339J1 (12th)
Nagoya GrampusAichi PrefecturePaloma Mizuho Stadium

Toyota Stadium

27,001

45,000

J1 (13th)
Gamba OsakaOsaka PrefecturePanasonic Stadium Suita39,694J1 (7th)
Cerezo OsakaYanmar Stadium47,853J1 (5th)
Vissel KobeHyōgo PrefectureNoevir Stadium30,132J1 (8th)
Sanfrecce HiroshimaHiroshima PrefectureEdion Stadium36,894J1 (6th)
Oita TrinitaŌita PrefectureShowa Denko Dome Oita40,000J1 (9th)
Sagan TosuSaga PrefectureEkimae Stadium24,130J1 (15th)

Personnel and kits

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ClubManagerCaptainKit manufacturer
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Mihailo Petrović[14] Kappa
Vegalta Sendai Takashi Kiyama[15] Adidas
Kashima Antlers Antônio Carlos Zago[16] Nike
Urawa Red Diamonds Tsuyoshi Otsuki[17] Nike
Kashiwa Reysol Nelsinho Baptista[18] YONEX
FC Tokyo Kenta Hasegawa[19] Umbro
Yokohama FC Takahiro Shimotaira[20] Soccer Junky
Yokohama F. Marinos Ange Postecoglou[21] Adidas
Shonan Bellmare Bin Ukishima[22] Penalty
Kawasaki Frontale Toru Oniki[23] Puma
Shimizu S-Pulse Peter Cklamovski[24] Puma
Nagoya Grampus Massimo Ficcadenti[25] Mizuno
Gamba Osaka Tsuneyasu Miyamoto[26] Umbro
Cerezo Osaka Miguel Ángel Lotina[27] Puma
Vissel Kobe Atsuhiro Miura[28] Asics
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Hiroshi Jofuku[29] Nike
Oita Trinita Tomohiro Katanosaka[30] Puma
Sagan Tosu Kim Myung-hwi[31] New Balance

Managerial changes

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TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of
appointment
Vissel Kobe Thorsten FinkChange of director21 September 2020[32] Atsuhiro Miura25 September 2020[33]
Shimizu S-Pulse Peter CklamovskiSacked1 November 2020[34] Hiroaki Hiraoka1 November 2020[35]

Foreign players

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As of 2020 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[36] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[37]
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Player 7Player 8Player 9Player 10Former players
Consadole Sapporo Hugo Vieira Anderson Lopes Douglas Oliveira Lucas Fernandes Jay Bothroyd Kim Min-tae Chanathip Songkrasin Kawin Thamsatchanan Gu Sung-yun
Vegalta Sendai Pará Isaac Cuenca Alexandre Guedes Jakub Słowik Simão Mate Junior Kim Jung-ya
Kashima Antlers Léo Silva Everaldo Juan Alano Kwoun Sun-tae
Urawa Red Diamonds Ewerton Leonardo Thomas Deng Quenten Martinus Fabrício
Maurício Antônio
FC Tokyo Adaílton Arthur Silva Diego Oliveira Leandro Joan Oumari
Kawasaki Frontale Diogo Mateus Jesiel Leandro Damião Jung Sung-ryong
Yokohama F. Marinos Erik Marcos Júnior Thiago Martins Júnior Santos Theerathon Bunmathan Edigar Junio
Park Iru-gyu
Shonan Bellmare Tarik Elyounoussi Riuler
Kashiwa Reysol Michael Olunga Cristiano Matheus Sávio Richardson Kim Seung-gyu Júnior Santos
Shimizu S-Pulse Carlinhos Elsinho Junior Dutra Neto Volpi Renato Augusto Valdo Teerasil Dangda Hwang Seok-ho
Yokohama FC Leandro Domingues Maguinho Calvin Jong-a-Pin
Nagoya Grampus Gabriel Xavier João Schmidt Mateus Mitchell Langerak Oh Jae-suk
Gamba Osaka Ademilson Patric Kim Young-gwon Shin Won-ho Lee Yun-oh Jefferson Tabinas
Cerezo Osaka Bruno Mendes Matej Jonjić Leandro Desábato Kim Jin-hyeon Tawan Khotrsupho Ahn Joon-soo Pierce Waring Lucas Mineiro
Vissel Kobe Dankler Douglas Thomas Vermaelen Andrés Iniesta Sergi Samper
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Douglas Vieira Ezequiel Leandro Pereira Rhayner
Sagan Tosu Eduardo Tiago Alves Renzo Lopez Cho Dong-geon An Yong-woo Park Jeong-su Ryang Yong-gi Wang Jianan Kim Min-ho Park Iru-gyu
Oita Trinita Mun Kyung-gun

League table

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It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues,[38] such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations).

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Kawasaki Frontale (C)3426538831+5783Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage[a]
2Gamba Osaka3420594642+465
3Nagoya Grampus3419694528+1763
4Cerezo Osaka34186104637+960Qualification for AFC Champions League play-off round[a]
5Kashima Antlers34185115544+1159
6FC Tokyo34176114742+557
7Kashiwa Reysol34157126046+1452
8Sanfrecce Hiroshima34139124637+948
9Yokohama F. Marinos34145156959+1047
10Urawa Red Diamonds34137144356−1346
11Oita Trinita341110133645−943
12Consadole Sapporo34109154758−1139
13Sagan Tosu34715123743−636
14Vissel Kobe3499165059−936
15Yokohama FC3496193860−2233
16Shimizu S-Pulse3477204870−2228
17Vegalta Sendai34610183661−2528
18Shonan Bellmare3469192948−1927
Source: Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goal scored; 6) Number of wins; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Since the winners of the 2020 Emperor's Cup, Kawasaki Frontale, qualified for the Champions League group stage, the spot given to the Emperor's Cup winners (Champions League group stage) was passed to the third-placed team and the spot given to the third-place team (Champions League play-off round) was passed to the fourth-placed team.

Results table

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Home \ AwayANTBELCERCONFMAFROGAMGRAREYREDSAGSFRSSPTOKTRIVEGVISYFC
Kashima Antlers1–01–10–24–21–11–10–21–44–02–01–02–02–20–22–12–23–2
Shonan Bellmare1–00–10–01–00–11–20–13–22–30–01–10–30–11–20–11–11–0
Cerezo Osaka1–21–02–04–11–31–10–20–03–01–20–12–00–01–02–10–01–0
Consadole Sapporo1–02–11–33–11–60–10–00–13–41–10–25–11–11–13–32–33–0
Yokohama F. Marinos2–33–21–24–11–31–22–11–16–21–13–13–01–34–03–12–34–0
Kawasaki Frontale2–13–15–20–23–15–03–03–13–10–05–15–02–12–01–03–23–2
Gamba Osaka2–00–11–22–11–10–12–12–11–31–11–00–21–32–10–41–02–1
Nagoya Grampus1–33–11–03–02–11–02–20–16–21–01–03–11–00–01–02–10–0
Kashiwa Reysol2–33–21–34–21–32–33–00–11–11–21–10–00–11–15–14–31–3
Urawa Red Diamonds1–00–03–10–20–00–31–20–10–42–21–01–10–12–16–01–20–2
Sagan Tosu0–22–21–10–21–31–11–20–02–10–10–01–13–02–20–10–13–0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima3–01–01–22–23–10–21–22–00–11–13–04–13–31–21–12–11–1
Shimizu S-Pulse1–21–13–13–13–42–21–21–21–21–21–12–31–34–22–33–12–3
FC Tokyo1–23–02–01–00–40–40–11–01–32–02–31–03–12–31–01–02–1
Oita Trinita1–42–20–11–11–01–00–10–30–00–02–00–22–10–10–21–11–0
Vegalta Sendai1–30–02–32–20–12–31–41–10–21–20–30–00–02–20–32–30–0
Vissel Kobe1–30–20–14–03–32–20–21–02–30–14–30–33–12–21–11–21–1
Yokohama FC1–04–21–21–23–11–50–23–20–30–21–10–21–31–02–31–12–1
Source: Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Michael OlungaKashiwa Reysol28
2 EveraldoKashima Antlers18
3 Leandro PereiraSanfrecce Hiroshima15
4 Yu KobayashiKawasaki Frontale14
5 ErikYokohama F. Marinos13
Kaoru MitomaKawasaki Frontale
Júnior SantosYokohama F. Marinos
Leandro DamiãoKawasaki Frontale
9 Kyogo FuruhashiVissel Kobe12
10 LeonardoUrawa Red Diamonds11
Marcos JúniorYokohama F. Marinos
Akihiro IenagaKawasaki Frontale

Hat-tricks

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PlayerClubAgainstResultDate
Michael OlungaKashiwa ReysolVegalta Sendai5–1 (H)26 July 2020
EveraldoKashima AntlersOita Trinita4–1 (A)1 August 2020
Naoki Maeda4Nagoya GrampusUrawa Red Diamonds6–2 (H)8 August 2020
Shun NagasawaVegalta SendaiGamba Osaka4–0 (A)14 November 2020
Júnior SantosYokohama F. MarinosUrawa Red Diamonds6–2 (H)14 November 2020
Akihiro IenagaKawasaki FrontaleGamba Osaka5–0 (H)25 November 2020
  • 4 Player scored 4 goals

Attendances

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PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1Kawasaki Frontale77,58721,11706,466−72.2%
2Yokohama F. Marinos90,19634,52106,443−76.1%
3Nagoya Grampus67,99711,85406,182−77.6%
4Cerezo Osaka72,31015,53506,026−72.0%
5Vissel Kobe69,24325,05905,476−74.5%
6Urawa Red Diamonds66,4639,83105,113−85.0%
7Gamba Osaka47,0429,31304,863−82.4%
8Shimizu S-Pulse55,69817,54904,642−69.1%
9Sanfrecce Hiroshima50,66918,71304,606−66.8%
10Oita Trinita54,1968,57004,516−70.6%
11FC Tokyo53,8878,16604,491−85.8%
12Shonan Bellmare48,73413,07104,430−63.4%
13Kashima Antlers33,7606,98203,943−80.8%
14Sagan Tosu40,7808,57403,722−75.3%
15Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo47,1115,3592,0393,624−80.7%
16Vegalta Sendai36,11313,96803,611−75.9%
17Kashiwa Reysol36,14412,46803,012−68.2%
18Yokohama FC32,1845,16302,926−58.6%
League total1,003,53934,52104,711−77.3%

Updated to games played on 18 October 2020
Source: J. League Data
Notes:
Promoted from J2

References

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