Defending Champions Hiroshima Travel to Tochigi City; In-Form Ehime Target Upset Against FC Tokyo [Preview: Levain Cup First Round – Round 2]

Sixteen Round 2 matches in the J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup will be played on 29 September, with seven J2-v-J1 ties, seven J3-v-J1 ties and two J3-v-J2 contests.
 
Defending champions Hiroshima travel to Tochigi City in good form after beating Fukuoka to make it two league wins in a row. Akito Suzuki has already scored six league goals this season and will now look to make his mark in the cup. Tochigi City, meanwhile, came through the First Round with a 2-0 win over Hachinohe, with Byron Vasquez opening the scoring.
 
Sapporo edged Kagoshima 1-0 with a late winner in the First Round but remain winless in seven league matches. They will hope a return to cup action can help turn things around. Okayama, meanwhile, saw their three-match winning run ended by Kyoto last time out. Na Sangho has been finding form and could be key to their attack.
 
Yamagata face Yokohama F. Marinos after edging Tochigi SC 1-0 in the First Round, when Kaito Mori scored the decisive goal. Yokohama FM arrive unbeaten in four league matches and are beginning to find some rhythm. With Kaina Tanimura away on international duty, 16-year-old Shin Miidera will be one to watch.
 
Toyama are unbeaten in four league matches and also came through the First Round with a 2-1 win over Miyazaki. They will now look to impose their possession-based style against J1 opposition when they host Urawa Reds. Urawa arrive on the back of a comfortable league win over Tokyo V, with Matheus Savio and Harumi Minamino again likely to provide the attacking spark.
 
Jubilo Iwata cruised past Sagamihara 3-0 in the First Round but have since suffered back-to-back league defeats. Young players such as Tokumo Kawai could provide the fresh energy they need. JEF United Chiba also advanced with a 2-0 win over Sanuki, with Erison opening the scoring.
 
Fujieda MYFC beat Yamaguchi 2-0 in the First Round thanks to a brace from Hayato Manabe, who will now have the chance to test himself against J1 opposition. Cerezo Osaka arrive winless in three league matches, while Kosei Okazawa, who spent last season on loan at Fujieda, faces his former club and will be one to watch.
 
Tosu edged Nara 2-1 in the First Round but have since slipped to three straight league defeats. A win over J1 opposition could give them the lift they need. Tokyo V also came through the First Round, beating Shiga 1-0, but remain without a league win this season and will be hoping the cup can provide a change of momentum.
 
Fukushima head into their meeting with Mito in free-scoring form. They edged Sendai 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller in the First Round before beating Nagano by the same score in the league last weekend. Can they maintain that firepower and pull off an upset against J1 opposition? Mito, meanwhile, are winless in three league matches and have failed to score in their last two, leaving their attack in need of a response.
 
Kanazawa reached Round 2 with a 2-1 win over FC Imabari, sealed by Patric's dramatic late winner. He could again prove decisive against Shimizu S-Pulse, who arrive on the back of two straight league wins. Koya Kitagawa is also back from injury and gives Shimizu another important attacking option.
 
FC Osaka have carried their strong league form into the cup, beating Kofu 3-0 in the First Round while remaining unbeaten in league competition. Their defensive solidity has been a major part of that run and will face another test against J1 opposition. Fukuoka, by contrast, are winless in six league matches and sit 18th, with new signing Oriol Romeu among those who could help change the mood.
 
Tottori knocked out RB Omiya Ardija in the First Round, with Sota Yamamoto scoring twice, and will now face V-Varen Nagasaki. Nagasaki also advanced with a win over Kochi, with Diego Pituca scoring the winner. Both will again be key figures for their respective sides.
 
Ehime FC take on FC Tokyo after beating Akita 1-0 in the First Round and continuing their strong league form. In-form Shota Tamura has been a major source of goals, and this will be a chance to see whether he can make the same impact against J1 opposition. FC Tokyo, meanwhile, arrive on a three-match winning run in the league, with Kota Tawaratsumida looking to build on his first goal of the season.
 
Kitakyushu are beginning to show signs of improvement, having beaten Iwaki 1-0 in the First Round and gone unbeaten in their last two league matches. Ryo Nagai now faces his former club as he continues to search for his first goal of the season. Nagoya Grampus, meanwhile, have lost four league matches in a row and scored only once during that run, putting added pressure on an attack in need of a response.
 
Roasso Kumamoto beat Oita 2-0 in the First Round and are also unbeaten in five league matches. Their defensive organisation has been a major strength, and they will need it against a Kawasaki Frontale side unbeaten in three league matches. So, Kawahara, who played for Kumamoto until 2022, will also attract attention on his return against his former club.
 
Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. knocked out Shonan on penalties in the First Round before finally claiming their first league win of the season last weekend. They will hope to carry that momentum into another meeting with J2 opposition. Albirex Niigata, however, are also in good form after edging Thespa Gunma in the First Round and going unbeaten in their last three league matches. Matheus Moraes and Iury Castilho remain key to their attacking threat.
 
FC Gifu also advanced on penalties, beating Tokushima in the First Round, and come into this match with Hayato Kanda fresh from a league hat-trick last weekend. His finishing will be tested against Yokohama FC, who beat FC Ryukyu 3-2 in the First Round and boast one of the strongest attacks in J2.