Round 23 of the 2024 J1 League season pits Yokohama F Marinos against Kashima Antlers at the Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams picked up hard-fought victories in their respective last outings and will head into this weekend's encounter on a high.
Match preview
Yokohama F Marinos saw off the threat of Mito Hollyhock via a penalty shootout on Wednesday to secure safe passage into the last 16 of this year's Emperor Cup.
Harry Kewell's men made a poor start to the contest and found themselves two down inside the opening 14 minutes thanks to strikes from Ryusei Nose and Yuki Kusana, before they rallied to level the game through Kenta Inoue and Asahi Uenaka, whose 84th-minute effort sent the tie to extra time and subsequently penalties.
This came off the back of a 4-0 thrashing by Gamba Osaka which saw Tricolor drop to 13th place in the J1 League table, five points adrift of the top half.
On the menu next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who boast just one victory from the last five editions of this matchup, losing the other four.
However, that solitary win did come in the most recent meeting last month, when Sunday's hosts fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in this season's reverse fixture.
Unlike Yokohama Marinos, Kashima Antlers were able to settle their cup tie in 90 minutes as they claimed a 2-1 win over Fujieda MYFC at the Kashima Soccer Stadium on Wednesday.
Ranko Popovic's men went into the dressing room trailing to Anderson Chaves's opener before second-half strikes from Aleksandar Cavric and Hayato Nakama turned the game around.
Prior to that, the Antlers got the better of Hokkaido Consadole courtesy of a routine 2-0 win and remain second in the standings, five points adrift of leaders Machida.
Having seen their 11 away games this term produce a combined 34 goals, Sunday's visitors will be bracing themselves up for another potential goal fest on enemy territory.
Team News
Yokohama's Kenta Inoue is yet to find the back of the net in the league but will be boosted by a second cup goal in as many appearances last time out.
Leading goalscorer Anderson Lopes was given a rare breather against Mito, but the Brazilian is expected to feature for the hosts this weekend.
Forward Aleksandar Cavric has scored in each of his last three starts for Kashima Antlers and is expected to retain his place in the lineup.
Yuma Suzuki has been directly involved in a team-high 15 goals for his side this term, making the 28-year-old one to keep an eye on here.
Yokohama F Marinos possible starting lineup:
Iikura; Kato, Eduardo, Kamijima, Matsubara; Kida, Uenaka, Watanabe; Miyaichi, Lopes, Yan
Kashima Antlers possible starting lineup:
Hayakawa; Anzai, Sekigawa, Ueda, Nono; Chinen, Sano; Nakama, Nago, Higuchi; Cavric
We say: Yokohama F Marinos 1-2 Kashima Antlers
Yokohama Marinos have been abysmal of late and were perhaps a tad lucky to have come away from their midweek cup tie unscathed. We are tipping Kashima Antlers to carry the day in this one come the sound of the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
