Nagoya Grampus welcome Kawasaki Frontale to the Toyota Stadium for a J1 League clash on Saturday.
Defeat in their last league outing has dented Nagoya's title challenge slightly, but it remains tight near the top of the Japanese top flight.
Match preview
Last weekend saw Nagoya's five-game winning streak come to an end, when they were beaten by Tokyo FC.
It was a damaging defeat considering that the four sides around them have since won, meaning Yokohama F Marinos moved four points clear of them at the top, Vissel Kobe overtook them into second, and both Urawa Red Diamonds and Cerezo Osaka closed the gap on them.
It was just a third league defeat of the season after 18 matches, but it saw Kenta Hasegawa's side drop to third and outside of the automatic AFC Champions League qualifying places.
There is little room for error with the five sides near the top so tightly packed together, and it places huge importance on this encounter, with league leaders Yokohama up next in a week's time.
They have not lost a league game here at the Toyota Stadium since they last faced Yokohama in early October last season, so they will hope to maintain that record and make it 11 games unbeaten before facing them again.
Kawasaki will be difficult opponents though, as they have recently found form, as a draw with Urawa in their last outing ended a four-game winning streak.
That positive run has comfortably moved them away from trouble, as they are a distant 13 points clear of the J1 League's relegation place.
While having a game in hand on most of the league, manager Toru Oniki will see his side as having an outside chance to push on towards the top three, especially if they can win here.
Kawasaki start the weekend 10 points adrift of Nagoya who currently occupy the final continental spot, so a win over them while still having a game in hand would be promising.
The side's recent upturn in form has helped them in the cup competitions too, as a win over Tochigi City saw them progress to the second round of the Emperor's Cup.
However, despite winning 3-2 against Shonan, they crashed out of the League Cup at the group stage due to Urawa and Shimizu S-Pulse playing out a 1-1 draw which saw both sides finish above them on goal difference.
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Team News
Kensuke Nagai continues to impress in his second spell with Nagoya, as the 39-year-old has registered seven goal involvements in 18 matches this season, following on from an impressive return last year after rejoining the club from Tokyo FC, where he spent five-and-a-half years.
Kasper Junker is one goal away from reaching double figures for goals for the first time in the J1 League since arriving from Bodo/Glimt in 2021.
On the injury front, Nagoya will be without Brazilian duo Naldinho and Thales for this one.
For Kawasaki, Chanathip Songkrasin has had a very disrupted season, but he could feature after playing 90 minutes twice for Thailand in the recent international break.
Frequent top scorer Leandro Damiao has also had issues this campaign and could be absent after he missed the trip to Urawa.
Fellow Brazilians Jesiel and Marcinho are also out, while Kazuki Kozuka will be suspended after he was sent off four minutes after coming on as a substitute in that recent league encounter.
Nagoya Grampus possible starting lineup:
Langerak; Nogami, Nakatani, Fujii; Izumi, Inagaki, Yonemoto, Morishita; Mateus dos Santos, Junker, Nagai
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Kamifukumoto; Yamane, Ominami, Kurumaya, Noborizato; Joao Schmidt, Wakizaka, Oshima; Ienaga, Miyashiro, Tono
We say: Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
After a slip-up away in Tokyo last week, Nagoya will expect to get back to winning ways here and keep up their impressive home unbeaten record in the league.
Kawasaki have been tough to beat though, and should put up a good fight in what could be an intriguing encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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