Both looking to extend unbeaten streaks, Kawasaki Frontale and Vissel Kobe will do battle at the Todoroki Athletics Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts have built a four-point lead over the relegation zone in the J1 League table in recent weeks, while their visitors sit fourth in the midst of their undefeated run.
Match preview
Kawasaki Frontale return to the Todoroki Athletics Stadium on Wednesday with the aim of continuing a pleasing run of form in their J1 League survival bid this season.
Following a 1-0 loss away at Vissel Kobe in their last meeting with Wednesday's visitors, the Azzurro Nero sat on 20 points from 18 outings in 14th spot, and while they still occupy that spot, they have since strengthened their standing with a six-match unbeaten streak in Japan's top flight, firstly sharing points in draws with Albirex Niigata, Shonan Bellmare and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, having been pegged back in the latter two contests.
That run was then stretched to five matches in July, as they were held to a 2-2 draw away at Jubilo Iwata having led through Daiya Tono and Kento Tachibanada until the 92nd minute, before again surrendering a lead at home to Cerezo Osaka as Vitor Bueno drew their visitors level 13 minutes from time after Marcinho had Toru Oniki's side 1-0 up in the first half.
Aiming to end that streak of near missed while building on their growing unbeaten streak, the Azzurro Nero most recently visited Kashiwa Reysol last month and succeeded in putting a sixth league victory of the season on the board in their 24th outing, having initially led 2-0 through a Shin Yamada brace and again seen their visitors draw level before Yasuto Wakizaka restored their lead and secured all three points in the 79th minute.
Now with renewed confidence having converted one of their leads to turn the run of draws into a six-match unbeaten streak producing eight points, Kawasaki head into Wednesday's meeting boasting a four-point lead over the relegation zone and will bid to further extend that cushion and their improved run with a home triumph.
That will be no easy task, though, as the visitors arrive in a fine run of their own aiming to replicate their victory over Wednesday's hosts in June.
Yoshinori Muto netted the only goal for Vissel Kobe in that prior meeting to see his side move onto 33 points from 18 J1 League outings, and after that was followed by a 2-1 loss away at Gamba Osaka, they have since put another five-match unbeaten streak together in Japan's top flight heading into Wednesday's contest.
Such a run has included back-to-back 3-1 victories over title-chasers Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Takayuki Yoshida's side have had to settle for a pair of draws since, firstly taking a point away at Consadole Sapporo as Yuya Osako drew them level after Ryota Aoki's first-half opener for the visitors.
Nagoya Grampus then visited the Misaki Park Stadium in their last league outing and the Ushi shared the points in agonising fashion, turning the game on its head and going 3-2 up in injury time through Kakeru Yamauchi and Ryuho Kikuchi after Daiju Sasaki netted their first, only to see Sho Inagaki draw the visitors level once again in the 10th added minute.
Now on the back of a narrow 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the J. League World Challenge Final and a 1-0 friendly victory over Reims, Vissel Kobe return to J1 League action on Wednesday in fourth spot, seven points behind league leaders Machida Zelvia and two behind Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers, and they will bid to crack the top three with a return to winning ways.
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Team News
Vissel Kobe will remain without young defender Kota Takai, who is away on international duty with Japan at the Olympic Games in France, while Jesiel will likely continue a spell in the treatment room.
Given those absences, Asahi Sasaki should again join Takuma Ominami at the heart of a back four, while Yuki Yamamoto and Kento Tachibanada will hope to continue their partnership in the engine room after the victory over Kashiwa Reysol last time out.
Ahead of them, Yasuto Wakizaka and Marcinho, who have netted seven and11 goals this season respectively will star in a supporting trio behind lone striker Shin Yamada, who moved onto eight for the campaign with his brace in their most recent victory.
Vissel Kobe should field a similar starting XI to the one that drew 3-3 with Nagoya Grampus in their last league outing, although Kakeru Yamauchi and Ryuho Kikuchi have claims to come in from the outset after scoring important goals off the bench in that game.
Yuya Osako will continue to lead their line, having notched up eight goals so far this season, while Taisei Miyashiro, who has netted seven of his own, will likely remain sidelined by an injury.
Yoshinori Muto is another danger man and will join Osako in attack, while Yosuke Ideguchi, Takahiro Ogihara and Daiju Sasaki could continue in the midfield if key man and captain Hotaru Yamaguchi remains out of action.
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Jung; Van Wermeskerken, Ominami, Sasaki, Miura; Tachibanada, Yamamoto; Ienaga, Wakizaka, Marcinho; Yamada
Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:
Maekawa; Kuwasaki, Yamakawa, Thuler, Hatsuse; Ideguchi, Ogihara, Sasaki; Muto, Osako, Patric
We say: Kawasaki Frontale 1-1 Vissel Kobe
With both sides having confidence from recent unbeaten streaks and having proven their toughness, we anticipate a tight contest on Wednesday and lean towards a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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